30.08.2025 01:09
Taxi drivers in Istanbul reacted to the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality's tender for including new vehicles in the digital taxi system. In their statement, the taxi drivers said, "The aim is not to serve the people of Istanbul, but to generate profit. This system that is intended to be brought to Istanbul does not exist anywhere else in Turkey."
```html
The taxi tradesmen serving in Istanbul reacted to the tender announced by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) for the inclusion of 150 new vehicles in the digital application-based taxi system, which will take place on September 2.
The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) is organizing a tender for the inclusion of 150 new vehicles in the digital application-based taxi system. The tender, which was opened on June 12, will take place on September 2.
VERY STRONG REACTION FROM TAXI DRIVERS
However, the reactions to the tender are significant. Fahrettin Can, President of the Istanbul Taxi Owners Association and Istanbul Airport Taxi Cooperative, stated in a written statement that it is no coincidence that only 9 people participated in the taxi plate tender opened by IMM on June 12.
"TAXIS ARE BEING DISGRACED"
Can noted that the taxi plates, which have been acquired through years of hard work, are being disparaged by being referred to as "tin," and he stated, "The money that will come from the taxi plate tender has been turned into a hope for IMM to cover its debts to private public buses."
"THE AIM IS NOT TO SERVE ISTANBULITES, BUT TO PROFIT"
Can argued that by granting road documents to minibuses operating under the name of tourism transportation with 9+1 seats, illegal transportation is being legitimized, leading to a situation where the number of illegal vehicles exceeds that of taxis. He added: "By allowing the advertisements of those engaged in illegal transportation with private vehicles to be displayed on the streets of Istanbul, they have made the taxi drivers easy prey. Now, they want to inflate the tender for rental plates for 29 years by imposing the use of applications while paying large sums to advertising companies.
The aim is not to serve the people of Istanbul, but to profit. This system, which is intended to be brought to Istanbul, does not exist anywhere else in Turkey. As long as illegal operations are not eliminated in Istanbul, increasing the number of taxis will exacerbate the grievances of the existing taxi tradesmen who are already in an economic crisis."
THE REAL PROBLEM IN ISTANBUL IS TRAFFIC CONGESTION
Can expressed that the real problem in Istanbul is not the number of taxis, but the traffic congestion, which reaches up to 85%, and which IMM has failed to solve.
Fahrettin Can reacted to the tender planned for September 2, stating, "It is inevitable that the taxi tradesmen, who have been worn down by years of black propaganda and pushed below the poverty line, and whose rights are not protected, will not show interest in the plate tender announced to take place on September 2. The Istanbulites who stand by the wronged taxi drivers will not remain silent about this injustice, and they will not trust the tender calls of the IMM management they do not believe in."
```