Technical inspections were conducted at the RAMS Park House Maslak project following the heavy rainfall that affected Istanbul. RAMS Turkey Construction Coordinator Tolga Metin Asutay reported that no structural damage that would jeopardize the project was found during the inspections.
Asutay stated that measurements taken after the flood showed "not even a 1-centimeter movement" in the retaining walls, adding that work at the construction site resumed on Monday. Noting that only material damage occurred at the site, Asutay said, "After ensuring the safety of our construction site on the day of the flood, we assisted the local residents with our heavy machinery."
Emphasizing that the project is located on a hillside rather than in a creek bed, Asutay stated that stream improvement works in the immediate vicinity are being carried out in coordination with İSKİ. Asutay said that urban transformation should not be viewed solely as the renewal of old buildings; he noted that it is important to address soil, infrastructure, structural safety, and environmental risks together.
Asutay stated that there were approximately 1,000 households in the project area previously, arguing that if the flood had occurred during the time when the old structures were still there, more severe consequences could have emerged. He stated, "We are carrying out one of Turkey's largest urban transformation projects. Our work is continuing at full capacity, we have neutralized the effects of the flood, and we will complete the project within the promised timeframe."
Recep Kaygın, a rights holder in the project, also said that residences in the region were damaged even during small-scale rainfall. Kaygın claimed that if the old structures had still been in place during the recent flood, at least 20 residences could have been submerged.
Another rights holder, Mustafa Kaygın, stated that they view the urban transformation project as a "salvation project" for themselves. Kaygın expressed that if the transformation had not been carried out, a much more severe situation could have been encountered following the flood.
News Source: 12punto
