Statement from IMM regarding metro projects and tender processes! 'Proceeding as planned'

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) has responded to allegations regarding the non-procurement of metro vehicles and the tender processes of its subsidiary, Ağaç ve Peyzaj AŞ. The statement reported that metro projects are ongoing and that tenders were conducted in accordance with procedures.

The statement from IMM is as follows: 

LIES / FACTS - 13

LIE: The lie that IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu thanked Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek for loan approval, but no metro vehicles were purchased and no services were provided.

FACT: In his social media post dated 18.09.2023, Ekrem İmamoğlu thanked the ministry for the loan approval granted for transportation investments. The areas where the loan would be utilized were clearly announced, and the projects are continuing as planned:

• M7 Mahmutbey-Esenyurt Metro Line:

Physical progress has reached 50.5% in the 1st stage between Mahmutbey and Küçükçekmece (7 km). It is planned to be opened for service at the end of 2027.

• M12 Ümraniye-Ataşehir-Göztepe Metro (300 Metro Vehicles):

Production of the vehicles to be purchased with the loan obtained in 2023 has begun at the factory in Sakarya. The first 10 sets are planned to be delivered in 2025.

• M4 Kadıköy-Sabiha Gökçen Airport Metro (100 Metro Vehicles):

A contract worth 5.1 billion TL was signed in July 2023. The first 4 sets will be delivered in January 2026; all vehicles will be completed by January 2027.

• T4 Topkapı-Mescid-i Selam Tram (34 Tram Vehicles):

Following the contract signed in May 2023, chassis production began on 04.12.2024. The vehicles will be 100% domestic engineering products.

THE LIE OF A 122 MILLION [TL] HEIST AT A VACANT ADDRESS

LIES AND FACTS - 14

LIE: The lie that the registered addresses of the companies that won the hoeing tenders held by Ağaç ve Peyzaj AŞ, one of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality subsidiaries, over the last two years were an unused apartment and that these firms do not actually operate.

FACT: The addresses of the aforementioned companies are not related to the period when the contracts between them and Ağaç ve Peyzaj AŞ were valid. During the tender process and before the contracts were signed, the address information of the firms was checked via the Trade Registry Gazette, and it was determined that these firms were active at the stated addresses. The address changes mentioned in the news report belong to the period after we no longer had any commercial ties with the firms. Currently, there is no contract or commercial relationship between the aforementioned firms and Ağaç ve Peyzaj AŞ. In the internal audits conducted, neither address similarity nor any irregularity was detected.

NOTE: To date, IMM has acted with public responsibility against intentional publications that violate the confidentiality of the investigation and has filed criminal complaints. Our fight against disinformation based on secret witness statements, which aims to create contradictions through the testimonies of IMM Mayor Mr. Ekrem İmamoğlu and IMM employees, will continue uninterrupted with our belief in the public's right to accurate information. OUR SERIES OF LIES AND FACTS REFUTATIONS WILL CONTINUE.

News Source: 12punto