Minister Uraloğlu's statement on the building collapse in Gebze: 'To avoid influencing the judicial investigation'

Stating that many deputies had criticized build-operate-transfer projects, Uraloğlu said, "If you are going to build a road between two places, you first conduct a feasibility study. Then you check whether you have the resources in your budget. If you do not have the resources, one alternative is to obtain foreign credit. Another alternative is to do it with a build-operate-transfer project. Of course, we have used all of these. We have made 300 billion dollars of investment in the field of transport. We have used all three of these methods. Build-operate-transfer projects are also construction and financing projects. The figure for build-operate-transfer projects at the time they were built is 51 billion dollars, while this is a 90 billion lira project. In other words, we had about one-third of the 300 billion dollars done through these projects. If we had not used this opportunity, we would not have been able to build the Güzeldere Tunnel and the Çamlık Viaduct on the Van-Hakkari road. We would not have been able to build the Honaz Tunnel and the Eğiste Hadimi Viaduct. We would not have been able to build the Ankara-Samsun road, the Adana July 15 Martyrs Bridge, the Zigana Tunnel, the Rize-Artvin and Ordu-Giresun airports, the Başkent Ray in Ankara, the Konak tunnels, the Sabuncubeli tunnels, the Marmaray, and the Eurasia tunnels."

Uraloğlu stated that Portuguese Minister of Infrastructure and Housing Miguel Pinto Luz had visited him and that Luz expressed a desire to take the Turkish model as an example for build-operate-transfer projects.

"METRO CONSTRUCTION HAS NO EFFECT"

Speaking about the building in Gebze that allegedly collapsed during metro construction and in which a family of 4 lost their lives, Uraloğlu stated that they had not made a statement on the matter until now so as not to influence the ongoing judicial investigation. Uraloğlu included the following statements:

"First of all, the excavation and support phase of the metro tunnel is a risk period for us. If there is going to be any deformation, we expect it to happen then. We have inspected 2,229 buildings during this construction process. And we have not seen any deformation in these buildings that would require us to take precautions. It is mentioned that there was a process regarding the expropriation of 71 buildings and that this was neglected. Look, significant changes were made to the project both in the section where those buildings are located and at the station, and the project passes entirely through solid rock. It was passed through there with rock breakers. There is no bad ground there. Therefore, everything was finished, and when we come to today, unfortunately, a tragic incident occurred there in which four of our citizens lost their lives. There is not the slightest deformation in the tunnel. I am underlining this. There is not the slightest crack in the tunnel and there is not the slightest water leak in the tunnel. I especially want to say this."

Stating that a tender open to international competition was held for the Aydın-Denizli Motorway, Uraloğlu reminded that the road in question was completed in two and a half years. Furthermore, conveying that work continues on the Geminbeli Tunnel, Uraloğlu shared the information that the tunnel will be finished in the first months of next year.

"4.7 MILLION PIECES OF DATA ON ISTANBUL RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN LEAKED TO THE UK"

Responding to allegations that e-signature passwords in the BTK pool were seized, Uraloğlu said, "4.7 million pieces of data on Istanbul residents have been leaked to the UK, and our National Cyber Incident Response Center (USOM) has revealed this. If you are looking for espionage, look here. Where was food eaten? What information was shared where? Unfortunately, all of your life information has been shared. I am speaking with documents; 4.7 million pieces of data have been sold."

Providing information on the construction of the Van ring road, Uraloğlu said that 28 kilometers of the 41-kilometer Ring Road will be finished this year.

Touching upon the communication problems that occurred during the earthquake, Uraloğlu said, "In the April 23 earthquake, which had its epicenter in Istanbul's Silivri district, 99.5 percent of the calls made in Istanbul were answered. Therefore, I would like to specifically state that the measures we have taken are working."

Noting that they have implemented a ceiling price application for airline travel, Uraloğlu shared the information, "The average for Çukurova-Ankara flights this year is 1,500 liras. For example, the Rize-Artvin flight from Istanbul is 2,500 liras, and to Ankara, it is 2,000 liras. Let me briefly state the figures. Ankara-Diyarbakır is 1,900 liras. The average ticket price in Turkey in 2025 to date is 2,560 liras."

Making a statement regarding the privatization of motorways, Uraloğlu said, "The work currently being done is the determination of our asset value. There is no decision made in this sense. Therefore, we will understand the asset value of our existing motorways and then we will talk if we have any future plans. On this occasion, I would like to specifically state that as of 2028, they, including the Northern Marmara Motorway and the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge, will be handed over to the administration, to the state. They are the property of the state. Those who operate them are only operators there."

Uraloğlu stated that by opening Çukurova Airport, they have brought a modern airport to the region, and noted that they have also started the project for the Adana Northern Ring Motorway, and thus will provide service in transportation as well.

"WE WILL TAKE INITIATIVE REGARDING FIXED INTERNET SPEED"

Addressing comments that fixed internet speed is low, Uraloğlu said, "Google and Turkcell will announce a one-billion-lira data center tender tomorrow regarding the data center. We, as TÜRKSAT, will also take a certain initiative at this point."

"TELEPHONE CONVERSATIONS CANNOT BE WIRETAPPED EXCEPT BY COURT ORDERS"

Responding to questions asked about the connection/disconnection fee of operators, Uraloğlu said, "There is no fee paid for the first one, but there is a fee for the second one. Again, telephone conversations absolutely cannot be wiretapped in any way except by court orders. We do not have such authority. To be honest, we do not have the intention either."

Noting that the Malatya ring road will be finished in 2026, Uraloğlu announced that the project for the Malatya-Arapgir road is also being carried out. Responding to questions asked about the Şanlıurfa-Mardin High-Speed Train Line, Uraloğlu said that work on the project is continuing.

"WE DO NOT RECOMMEND THE USE OF ILLEGAL VPNS"

Regarding the use of illegal VPNs for internet access, Uraloğlu said, "We never recommend the use of illegal VPNs. Because these are places where data leaks occur. Please, no one should use them. I would like to announce this especially through you."

News Source: İHA