19.04.2025 14:32
The Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, stated regarding the Siirt-Kurtalan Road and the Siirt Airport Connection Road, which he inaugurated, "With this project we have put into service, we will reduce the travel time to 14 minutes and save 206 million lira." Uraloğlu also announced that the railway line, which currently ends in the Kurtalan district of Siirt, will be extended to Siirt with a new line to be constructed.
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Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu stated regarding the Siirt-Kurtalan Road and Siirt Airport Connection Road, which he inaugurated, "With this project we have put into service, we will save a total of 206 million lira annually, reducing travel time to 14 minutes, saving 163 million lira in time and 43 million lira in fuel. We will contribute to the protection of nature by reducing carbon emissions that harm the environment by 2,541 tons."
URALOGHU DESCRIBED THE SERVICES PROVIDED Minister Uraloğlu expressed his satisfaction for being in the city during his speech at the opening ceremony of the Siirt-Kurtalan Road and Siirt Airport Connection Road, stating that the steep canyons of the Botan Valley, the unique rock formations of Rasıl Hacar, and the healing waters of Billoris Thermal Springs have turned Siirt into not just a city but an open-air museum. Uraloğlu explained that Siirt has always held a special place under the AK Party governments, and as a Ministry, they are tirelessly working to make the transportation infrastructure in this city, like in every corner of the country, safer, more comfortable, and sustainable. He stated that with projects like the Siirt-Kurtalan Road and Airport Connection Road, they are rebuilding the city's transportation networks and accelerating the region's economic and social life, noting that they have invested approximately 37 billion lira in Siirt's transportation and communication infrastructure since 2002, increasing the length of divided roads from 7 kilometers in 2002 to 137 kilometers.
"CURRENTLY, WORK CONTINUES ON 8 IMPORTANT ROAD PROJECTS" Uraloğlu explained that they have brought the length of the hot mix asphalt road from 2 kilometers to 110 kilometers, providing comfort and safety to the people of Siirt on the roads, and that they have completed 186 kilometers of single road improvements. He mentioned that they have completed important projects such as the Siirt Ring Road, Siirt City Transition, Kozluk-Baykan Road, Batman-Beşiri-Kurtalan Road, Siirt-Tillo Road, and Küçüksu-Pervari Road, and that they have finished 56.2 kilometers of the 57.2-kilometer Siirt-Eruh Road with a surface coating and opened the Zarova and Botan bridges within the project scope. Uraloğlu pointed out that with the Küçüksu-Hizan-Pervari Road and the Beğendik Botan Bridge, which they built over the Botan River, they have ensured safe and comfortable access from the Pervari district to Bitlis and Van, stating: "This bridge has buried the Botan River, which was crossed with anxiety, in history and turned the journey over it into a delightful nature view." Since its opening, a total of 1 million 810 thousand vehicles have passed over the Beğendik Bridge. Currently, work continues on 8 important road projects. The Siirt-Kurtalan Road and Airport Connection Road, which we have inaugurated, is a significant turning point in Siirt's transportation infrastructure. This project, which is 21.2 kilometers long, includes the Reşat Baysal Variant affected by the Ilısu Dam's water retention and the 3-kilometer-long Airport Connection Road. This route, which we have upgraded to the standard of divided road with hot mix asphalt coating, is also equipped with the Reşat Baysal Bridge Interchange and 8 at-grade intersections. Uraloğlu stated that they have transformed the road between Siirt and Kurtalan into a divided road and increased travel comfort and traffic safety on the Siirt-Batman axis by renewing surface-coated roads with hot mix asphalt.
With the Airport connection road reaching the standard of a divided road, Uraloğlu noted that they have facilitated citizens' access to the airport and accelerated the access of pistachios, honey, and other agricultural products produced in the region to domestic and foreign markets, stating, "With this project we have put into service, we will save a total of 206 million lira annually, reducing travel time to 14 minutes, saving 163 million lira in time and 43 million lira in fuel. We will contribute to the protection of nature by reducing carbon emissions that harm the environment by 2,541 tons."
Uraloğlu emphasized that the road will further enhance Siirt's trade and tourism potential, significantly contributing to the region's economic development, and that the transportation of agricultural and industrial products in the region to ports and international markets will accelerate, highlighting that Siirt's export volume will grow even more.
A NEW RAILWAY LINE WILL BE BUILT BETWEEN SİİRT AND KURTALAN Uraloğlu pointed out that they have also strengthened the city's air and railway infrastructure, renewing the airport for civil aviation, conducting 14 weekly flights to Ankara and Istanbul, and starting work on a new terminal building that will increase the annual passenger capacity from 100,000 to 250,000 to meet demand.
Minister Uraloğlu concluded his speech as follows: "I want to give an important good news. In the 23-year period, we have made an investment of 37 billion lira in Siirt. Now look, today I will talk about an investment of 30 billion lira in a single project. We have included the Siirt-Kurtalan New Railway Project in the 2025 investment program. We will hold the tender for this 34-kilometer line on May 28. May it be auspicious. Starting a job is half the battle. In addition, we will modernize the Yolçatı-Diyarbakır-Kurtalan and Diyarbakır-Mazıdağ lines, increasing the design speed to 160 kilometers per hour. Rest assured that we will continue to be by your side with projects that will carry Siirt's spiritual heritage into the future and strengthen its economic and social life because our President has a special interest in all our provinces, but Siirt has a special place. I thank the contracting companies that successfully completed the Siirt-Kurtalan Road and Siirt Airport Connection Road, the employees of the General Directorate of Highways, and everyone who contributed."
I wish it to be auspicious and beneficial.
Ahmet Gülşen, the General Director of Highways, stated that they have brought another significant investment to Siirt, and that they continue to provide service by constructing the road networks affected by the Ilısu Dam, located within the borders of Siirt, as well as Diyarbakır, Batman, Şırnak, and Mardin, through new routes. Gülşen explained that they are raising the standard of the existing road network with new investments and noted that the road they will inaugurate will directly contribute to Siirt's social and economic life. After the speeches, Minister Uraloğlu, Governor and Deputy Mayor Kemal Kızılkaya, Gülşen, and other participants cut the ribbon to inaugurate the road. Later, Uraloğlu drove a Togg on the road they inaugurated. The ceremony was attended by AK Party Siirt Deputy Mervan Gül, AK Party Provincial Chairman Bahri Caner Özturan, Provincial Police Chief Necmettin Öztürk, Provincial Gendarmerie Commander Brigadier General Uğur Özmen, Siirt University Rector Prof. Dr. Nihat Şındak, mayors, representatives of public institutions and civil society organizations, and citizens.