We also remember… There was a comprehensive report on transportation problems that the late Ali Osman Sönmez kept on the agenda in the 70's and 80's when he was the chairman of the Bursa Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
He would point out the report at the BTSO Assembly meetings and the Minister visits and say, "The industry will grow even more, but there is no railway or port to carry this production". He would have wanted "an international airport befitting Bursa".
Years have passed Ar
Bursa now has ports, that problem has disappeared. There is an airport, but it cannot be used in desired sizes. Railway investment is still the biggest problem.
We announced the first study projects of the Bandırma-Bursa-Ayazma Railway Line in the 90s from these columns. The late Kadri Güçlü, who was the DYP Bursa deputy at that time, worked hard as the Head of the TBMM Subcommittee established for this project.
In the 2000s, industrial organizations of Eskişehir and Central Anatolia Region took action with the desire to "reach Gemlik Port by rail". Bandırma-Bursa-Osmaneli Railway project was put on the agenda with their lobby.
Even…
The government, which put the project out to tender in 2010, made a gesture and turned the Bursa-Osmaneli line into a high-speed train, and announced transportation to the ports by freight train.
So what…
While the foundations were laid in Balat on December 3, 2010, the high-speed train, whose travel goal was set in 2016, remained at the stage of tunnels and a few viaducts, despite all these years.
In April, the Balat-Gemlik Port line, which was an important part of the project, was canceled on the grounds that it was not profitable.
On September 14, the tenders for the Yenişehir-Osmaneli line and the superstructure and electromechanical tenders of the Bursa-Yenişehir line were canceled.
Moreover…
With the investment program revision on August 1, the name of our project was changed to High Standard Railway Line, it is no longer a high-speed train.
We're going to say:
AK Party deputies are seeking support from everyone in Ankara for the project to be completed as soon as possible with good intentions. However, such an important investment for Bursa should not only be a problem for politicians.
Bursa should show every part of it that it wants this project. BTSO's voice should be heard on behalf of the business world that has wanted trains and ports for years.
Actually…
Has anyone ever heard of the BTSO's voice regarding the problems of the city?
Was the Gemlik train useless?
Even if its tender was canceled… In the railway line that will one day come to Bursa, freight train is more important due to the industrial zones.
Even…
For the freight train line that will reach Gemlik Port from Balat Station, an extension line in the Organized Industrial Zone was designed last year. Thus, industry and port would be connected by rail as they should be.
The interesting thing is:
Bursa business world, especially BTSO, watched when TCDD suspended the project because it was not found to be profitable.
Source: Olay - Ahmet Emin Yılmaz
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