Record traffic density during Ramadan Feast: Number of vehicles passing through highways and bridges announced

According to traffic data shared with the public by Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, millions of people were on the move via air, land, and rail between March 19-22, the dates corresponding to the 2026 Ramadan Feast.

Bridges and highways provided free service during these dates in line with the Presidential decree. Minister Uraloğlu drew attention to the data between March 18-22, as the holiday rush began a day early. During this period, it was reported that 1 million 156 thousand 520 vehicles passed through the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, and 932 thousand 212 vehicles passed through the 15 July Martyrs Bridge. In total, 2 million 88 thousand 732 vehicles were served on the two bridges within 5 days.

During the same period, a total of 7 million 846 thousand 97 vehicles passed through the highways under the responsibility of the General Directorate of Highways (KGM). The number of vehicle crossings on highways operated under the build-operate-transfer system was 4 million 491 thousand 951. Thus, the number of vehicles using bridges and highways throughout the holiday period reached 12 million 338 thousand 48.

Minister Uraloğlu also provided the information that "a total of 1 million 632 thousand 831 passengers were transported on 44 thousand 733 intercity bus trips between March 19-22."

PASSENGER DENSITY ON RAILWAY AND METRO LINES

Public transport usage in Istanbul also reached remarkable figures. A total of over 1 million 950 thousand passengers traveled on the Marmaray, Sirkeci-Kazlıçeşme, and Gayrettepe-Istanbul Airport-Arnavutköy lines. The number of passengers using only the Marmaray line was announced as 1 million 790 thousand 733. 44 thousand 898 people benefited from the Sirkeci-Kazlıçeşme Line, and 114 thousand 371 people used the Gayrettepe-Istanbul Airport-Arnavutköy Metro.

In Ankara, 249 thousand 880 passengers were transported on the Başkentray Sincan-Kayaş line over the 4-day period. The number of people traveling with High-Speed Trains (YHT) was determined to be 150 thousand 989, and a daily record was broken on the last day of the holiday with 41 thousand 449 passengers.

In addition, a total of 2 million 489 thousand 185 people benefited from urban rail systems along with main line and regional trains.

AIRPORTS EXPERIENCED GREAT DENSITY

Airports in Turkey left behind a busy period between March 19-22. During the four-day time frame, a total of 2 million 530 thousand 758 passengers were served at airports. During this process, 16 thousand 851 aircraft traffic movements occurred. It was recorded that 873 thousand 851 passengers were transported at Istanbul Airport, 162 thousand 514 at Ankara Esenboğa Airport, 541 thousand 760 at Sabiha Gökçen, and 161 thousand 405 at Antalya Airport.

Minister Uraloğlu also drew attention to the density in Aegean and Mediterranean destinations, stating that Muğla Milas-Bodrum and Muğla Dalaman airports reached their highest passenger numbers of the year. During the March 19-22 period, Milas-Bodrum Airport served 19 thousand 290 passengers, and Dalaman Airport served 17 thousand 212 passengers. On the last day of the holiday, both airports experienced their highest passenger density of the year.

It was emphasized that the passenger and vehicle mobility across the country during the holiday period brought new records in the transport sector.

News Source: 12punto