Kanal Istanbul tenders go to AKP-linked figures once again

Tenders held within the scope of the Kanal Istanbul project continue to provide earnings to figures linked to the AKP. While 4 out of the 10 tenders opened for the second phase of the project have been finalized, the others remain in the evaluation stage. According to a report by Deniz Ayhan from Sözcü, two of the finalized tenders, totaling 4 billion 708 million Turkish Lira, were awarded to companies owned by former AKP parliamentary candidate hopefuls from Diyarbakır and Şanlıurfa.

One of the latest tenders was held for the construction of 1,054 residences and landscaping in the Arnavutköy Sazlıbosna 17th District. The tender was won by the partnership of Öz Er Ka and Nira companies for a price of 2 billion 69 million 400 thousand TL. Eşref Keleş, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Öz Er-Ka, was an AKP parliamentary candidate hopeful from Diyarbakır in 2018.

Another tender was organized for the construction of 1,265 residences, 76 shops, a school, and a mosque in the Arnavutköy Sazlıbosna 15th District. This tender was won by Ilgın İnşaat, owned by İbrahim Halil Yanmaz, who was an AKP parliamentary candidate hopeful from Şanlıurfa in 2011, for a price of 2 billion 639 million Turkish Lira.

To date, 28 tenders have been held along the Kanal Istanbul route, and the vast majority have been won by firms close to the government. A total tender price of 54 billion 881 million 504 thousand TL has been paid for 24,150 residences, 1,121 workplaces, 7 mosques, and 6 schools.

Another tender in the region was held on August 6 for the construction of 1,003 residences, 24 shops, and a mosque in the Sazlıbosna 14th District. This tender was won by the Zinar Harita and Star Plus partnership. Star Plus Yapı had previously come to the agenda with allegations of using substandard materials while constructing TOKİ residences in Hatay. Another tender held on August 7 was awarded to the partnership of GEKA İnşaat and MAQ İnşaat.