9/5/2017
Noteworthy Statements by UDH Minister Arslan
UDH Minister Ahmet Arslan said, "with Canal İstanbul Project, the sea traffic threatening life and cultural assets of İstanbul Strait will be minimized, alternative crossing possibilities will be created for ships facing heavy traffic in both entrance of Straits. Works, in terms of planning, tender preparations and design preparations continue for 7 Logistic Centers more, we plan to complete 21 Logistic Centers for Turkey."
In the announcement recently made, Minister of Transportation, Maritime Affairs and Communication (UDH) Ahmet Arslan has noted that waterways and maritime affairs were most important components of transportation sector, Works started on a new water way project for improving logistic sector by expanding the waterways of Turkey, as to be integrated into big projects like İstanbul New Airport, to ease the traffic load of İstanbul Strait, to prevent potential disasters to be caused by tankers transporting hazardous material. Reporting survey design contract was signed on Canal İstanbul Project for clarifying the route and preparing the cross sections, Arslan has noted that the method/strategy to be pursued in preparation of Survey, Design and Consultancy Services technical specifications, tasks, authority and responsibilities, engineering Works, other activities and work planning were all defined within the coverage of this specification. Arslan said, “Alternative routes were considered in the project area and most ideal route was tried to be found. Canal corridor is about 43 km, Canal cross section and final route will be defined on the basis of survey design and consultancy services." Minister Arslan has also noted that 162 ground survey work carried out by the Ministry, İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) carried out reconstruction plan works, TOKİ has carried out landscaping preparations and some universities prepared reports. Arslan has furnished information on Works carried out by the Ministry within the coverage of subject contract and said, "Ecological, environmental and engineering Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) analysis will be carried out, the water Dynamics and flow regimes of Black Sea, Marmara and Aegean Sea, in additional to field Works, geotechnical, geological, hydrogeological and geophysical Works will be carried out, feasibility report will be prepared on the basis of engineering technologies of similar projects, expropriation process will be set, tender documentation will be prepared for construction Works, integrated points of Canal İstanbul Project with other transportation modes will be defined". As it might be recalled, we reported that Infrastructure Investments General Directorate (AYGM) has received bids in mid-July for Canal İstanbul Project feasibility survey in line with article 21/b of Public Procurement Law from 1 local and 2 international companies on bargaining method TEBA:1827/ August 4, 2017. In the tender to cost about TL 36.7 million, bids of three companies received and contract was signed with Yüksel Proje on TL 34.9 million on August 3, 2017. Kars Logistic Center and Railway Connection Line Project UDH Minister Arslan has furnished information on ongoing Kars Logistic Center construction and other Logistic Centers under construction. Minister Arslan said; "Works, in terms of planning, tender preparations and design preparations continue for 7 Logistic Centers more. There will be altogether 21 Logistic Centers in Turkey. This means 35 million ton additional cargo for the cargo capacity of Turkey, for which about 10 million square meter logistic area required." Arslan has noted that one of the Logistic Centers was made in Erzurum and would be completed soon, 25% reached in Kars Logistic Center construction and planned the project to be completed in October 2018. Arslan said, "Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railway Project to be inaugurated this year and Kars Logistic Center to be used for cargo in Turkey to reach Europe and Central Asia are two complementary projects." As it might be recalled, Kars Paşaçayır OSB Logistic Center and Railway Connection Construction tender was awarded to Akkol Madencilik+Elron İnşaat Partnership, contract was signed with the Business Partnership on TL 94.3 million and made effective TEBA:1811/ April 11, 2017. First test run of “Turkey-Georgia-Azerbaijan” Railway Project, part of about 2 thousand km Transasia railway to connect Asia and Caucasus, was made on July 19 with the participation of Minister Ahmet Arslan TEBA:1825/ July 20, 2017.
Annual Report
