17.05.2025 16:13
The Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, announced that they have opened approximately 162 kilometers of rail system lines across Istanbul. Uraloğlu stated that the Altunizade-Çamlıca Mosque-Bosna Boulevard Metro will be extended to Ümraniye Sports Village and reminded that Istanbul needs an additional 600 kilometers of new rail system lines.
Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu announced that they have opened approximately 162 kilometers of rail system lines across Istanbul. Speaking at the construction program of the Altunizade Ferah Neighborhood Çamlıca Mosque Bosna Boulevard Metro line, Uraloğlu stated that rail systems, which offer an environmentally friendly solution amidst the chaos of big cities, are reducing the carbon footprint and taking ownership of the future.
At this point, Uraloğlu expressed that the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure has implemented very important urban rail system projects, especially for citizens living in large cities, and noted that the total length of urban rail system lines they have completed and put into service across Turkey has reached approximately 434 kilometers.
Additionally, Uraloğlu reported that construction works are ongoing on a total of 91.8 kilometers of line in 6 projects as a ministry, stating: "Since its opening, approximately 1 billion 330 million passengers have used Marmaray, which our ministry has implemented. Since the urban rail systems we put into service in recent years, approximately 19 million passengers have traveled on our lines between Gayrettepe-Istanbul Airport-Arnavutköy, 14.2 million on the Bakırköy Bahçelievler Kirazlı Metro, and about 4 million 653 thousand passengers have traveled on the Sirkeci Kazlıçeşme line, which reconnects the historical peninsula of Istanbul with modern rail systems in an environmentally friendly approach. We are working tirelessly day and night to make Istanbul one of the cities with the most advanced transportation infrastructure in Europe and the world. The biggest key to relieving Istanbul's traffic is undoubtedly rail transportation projects."
Uraloğlu, who said, "We have opened approximately 162 kilometers of rail system lines across Istanbul," provided the following information: "But we are not stopping; we are continuing. Currently, construction works are ongoing on a total of 22 kilometers of lines, including the Halkalı-Istanbul Airport line's Halkalı-Arnavutköy section and the Altunizade Çamlıca Mosque Bosna Boulevard Metro. Additionally, our ministry has undertaken a new project that will extend the Altunizade Çamlıca Mosque Bosna Boulevard Metro Line to Ümraniye Sports Village. With the Kazım Karabekir Topağacı Ümraniye Sports Village Rail System Line, we will provide a new line of 4.5 kilometers by putting into service the stations of Yavuztürk, Kazım Karabekir, Topağacı, and Ümraniye Sports Village starting from Bosna Boulevard." Uraloğlu emphasized that the length of the ongoing construction lines will reach 26.5 kilometers, and the total length of the lines they have built across Istanbul will be approximately 188 kilometers.
With this new project, Uraloğlu stated that they will provide uninterrupted metro access from Altunizade to Ümraniye Sports Village, making life easier for Istanbul residents and further strengthening the transportation network in the region by integrating with the Üsküdar Çekmeköy Metro and Metrobus. He said, "The starting point of the rail system, our Altunizade Çamlıca Mosque Bosna Boulevard Metro Line, is 4.53 kilometers long and connects the Üsküdar Ümraniye Çekmeköy Metro and metrobus lines to Çamlıca Mosque and Bosna Boulevard." Uraloğlu mentioned that the line, consisting of 4 stations: Altunizade, Ferah Neighborhood, Çamlıca Mosque, and Bosna Boulevard, will serve the Büyük Çamlıca Mosque Complex, which has a capacity of 37,500 people, the Museum of Islamic Civilizations, and the densely populated Ferah Neighborhood located on Çamlıca Hill.
Uraloğlu stated, "Therefore, the timely completion of the line is of great importance for these areas, which are heavily visited for tourism and religious purposes. For this reason, we are continuing our construction works on a 24/7 basis."
"WE HAVE COMPLETED APPROXIMATELY 99 PERCENT OF THE MAIN LINE TUNNEL EXCAVATIONS" As of today, Uraloğlu stated that they have completed approximately 99 percent of the main line tunnel excavations, continuing his remarks: "Only 71 meters of main line tunnel excavation remains. We are also continuing with the concrete covering works. We have largely completed the electromechanical project works. While we are building Istanbul's transportation future, we have faced lies from certain circles claiming that we took this project from the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. The Altunizade Çamlıca Mosque Bosna Boulevard Line project is being carried out by our ministry at the request of the metropolitan municipality in the past. The request to extend this line to Ümraniye Sports Village came from both urban planning and the changing needs of the city from the Ümraniye Municipality and the Istanbul Governorship."
Uraloğlu, who commented, "We undertook the project with the approval of our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. So we are talking about a project that is not in the hands of the metropolitan municipality, nor is it even in their minds," continued: "As we have always stated, it is no longer possible to solve Istanbul's transportation problem from the surface. Considering the city's population and economic activity, it is evident that investments in underground transportation networks have become inevitable. Our calculations show that Istanbul needs a 1004-kilometer metro line. Currently, Istanbul has 362 kilometers of lines, and when the projects under construction by our ministry are completed, the total length of Istanbul's rail system will increase to approximately 388.5 kilometers."
Uraloğlu expressed that more than 600 kilometers of metro lines need to be built, stating, "Each line we have built, especially Marmaray, has added a new chapter to the story of this ancient city."
At this point, Uraloğlu emphasized that the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure has always been alongside Istanbul and Istanbulites, stating, "We will continue to work until we establish a fast, safe, and comfortable transportation network that meets the needs of Istanbulites."