Bidders emerge for bridges and highways to be privatized: French giant makes contact in Ankara

New details have emerged regarding the 30-year privatization process planned for Turkey's major bridges and highways. As reported by ANKA, it has been stated that the French infrastructure company Egis has held meetings with officials in Ankara as part of a process that includes the 15 July Martyrs Bridge and the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, both under the control of the General Directorate of Highways.

According to the presidential decree, bridges, highways, and ring roads may be privatized either as a whole or in separate parts. Options under consideration include the transfer of operating rights, leasing, revenue-sharing models, and other methods suitable for the nature of the work, applied either individually or in combination. There will be no transfer of ownership in the process.

The privatization transactions are expected to be completed by December 31, 2031. According to sources close to the process, privatizing the assets in three or four separate groups, taking economic integrity into account, is also among the options being evaluated. However, there is no finalized decision on this matter yet.

INTEREST FROM DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN COMPANIES

Egis is known to operate 29 roads and highways across 20 countries. According to the company's official information, it has a portfolio of approximately 4,400 kilometers of road network and 81 kilometers of tunnel operations. Egis also operates in the fields of infrastructure consulting, engineering, operations, and maintenance.

The company has also taken part in some major infrastructure projects in Turkey. Egis is involved in operation, maintenance, and electronic toll collection services for the Northern Marmara Motorway, which includes the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge, the Istanbul-Izmir Motorway, which includes the Osmangazi Bridge, and the Eurasia Tunnel projects.

In addition to the French company, it is stated that some companies based in Japan, South Korea, and Spain are also closely monitoring the process. From Turkey, IC İçtaş, Limak, Kalyon, and Cengiz Holding are considered to be among the potential investors; it is assessed that these companies may participate in the process by forming consortia with foreign investors.

News Source: 12punto