Uraloğlu announced: A new metro line is coming to Istanbul

Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu met with workers on the line at an iftar program held at the Halkalı-Istanbul Airport Metro Line construction site.

Delivering a speech there, Uraloğlu claimed that they are implementing the world's most unique and respected urban rail system projects and said the following:

"As you may recall, we opened the 14-kilometer-long Arnavutköy-Istanbul Airport section of our Halkalı-Istanbul Airport Metro Line, where we are currently meeting with you, in March of last year, thus increasing the length of the lines we have built and put into service across Istanbul to 161.8 kilometers."

"WE HAVE TRANSPORTED APPROXIMATELY 2.9 MILLION PASSENGERS WITH JUST THIS 14-KILOMETER SECTION OF THE LINE"

Minister Uraloğlu stated that they are currently continuing construction work on the Halkalı-Arnavutköy section of the Halkalı-Istanbul Airport Line and the Altunizade-Çamlıca Mosque-Bosna Boulevard Metro.

Stating that the 31.5-kilometer-long Halkalı-Istanbul Airport Metro consists of 7 stations, Uraloğlu continued as follows:

"Integrated with Arnavutköy-Istanbul Airport-Gayrettepe, we have provided integration with high-speed trains at Istanbul Airport, with the Mahmutbey-Mecidiyeköy-Kabataş Metro Line at the Kağıthane station, and with the Yenikapı-Hacıosman Metro and Metrobus at the Gayrettepe station.

Thanks to these integrations, we have provided fast and safe travel with metro comfort by covering the distance between Arnavutköy and Istanbul Airport in 8 minutes, Arnavutköy and Göktürk in 20 minutes, Arnavutköy and Kağıthane in 32 minutes, Arnavutköy and Gayrettepe in 41 minutes, and Arnavutköy and Beşiktaş in 44 minutes. Since March 19, 2024, that is, from the opening to the present, we have transported approximately 2.9 million passengers with just this 14 km section of the line."

Minister Uraloğlu stated that they have completed a total of 55,600 meters of tunnel excavation in the project's main line tunnels using 8 TBMs with a diameter of 6.60 meters.

Expressing that they have achieved 99 percent progress in tunnel lining concrete production, Uraloğlu said, "We have completed 99.9 percent of the reinforced concrete production in the construction works at the stations, scissor structures, and service stations. In other words, we are about to finish. We have made 85 percent progress in the finishing construction works of the stations. In the line tunnels, we have completed the railway superstructure production at a rate of 99 percent. We have achieved 80 percent progress in the work on electromechanical jobs."

Uraloğlu said, "In fact, when we finish this section as well, we will have completed a 69-kilometer ring line under the name of the Halkalı-Istanbul Airport-Gayrettepe Metro Project, which will be one of the longest metro lines in the world in the metro class that is entirely underground."

Stating that finishing works, landscaping, and electromechanical production are continuing at the Fenertepe, Kayaşehir, Olimpiyatköy, Halkalı Stadium, and Halkalı stations, which are currently under construction, Uraloğlu used the expression, "Thanks to these integrations, we will start to cover the distance between Halkalı and Istanbul Airport in 30 minutes, Halkalı and Göktürk in 43 minutes, Halkalı and Kağıthane in 54 minutes, Halkalı and Gayrettepe in 57 minutes, Küçükçekmece and Kemerburgaz in 50 minutes, and Başakşehir (Metrokent) and Kağıthane in 48 minutes."

"WE AIM TO OPEN OUR LINE TO SERVICE BY THE END OF 2025"

Stating that they plan to finish all construction work by the middle of 2025, Uraloğlu noted the following:

"We aim to complete the testing and commissioning processes of our metro vehicles that will operate on the line by the end of the year and open our line to service by the end of 2025. Thus, the entire 69-kilometer-long Halkalı-Istanbul Airport-Gayrettepe Metro Project will have been put into service.

Each of you is a hero who shoulders the development of this city and this country. The Halkalı-Istanbul Airport Metro line you are working on is actually not just a transportation project, but also a civilization project. You are not just building a metro line; you are also building the future of a nation. This line, shaped by your hands, will be one of the most precious legacies we will leave to the future."