Barriers on the coast in Üsküdar removed, road reopened to pedestrians
Following the removal of barriers by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality teams that had been placed by some mansion owners on the coastal road in Kandilli, the area has once again been made available for public use. IMM officials emphasized that the coastlines belong to everyone and stated that no occupation will be permitted.
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Residents of some mansions located on the Bosphorus shore in the Kandilli neighborhood of Üsküdar had blocked the coastal road with barriers. The situation, which was filmed by a citizen and shared on social media, sparked widespread backlash. Photos of the blocked walking path were shared by many people in a short time and found a major echo in public opinion.
Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) police teams acted quickly following the intense reactions and removed the barriers on the coast. Thus, the coastal road was reopened for pedestrian use. Local residents and social media users welcomed the reopening of the road.
Claims that the coastal road had been closed by the IMM had also surfaced in many news sources and on social media platforms. However, the statement made by the IMM included the following: “As the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, our stance is clear: The coastlines belong to the public; we will never allow their occupation by anyone, whoever they may be.”
The local public reiterated the emphasis that coastal roads are common public areas and stated that they would continue to monitor against similar practices.