Ankara Niğde Highway, Costing Billions of Euros, Turned into a 'Ghost Road'

Only one facility was built on the guaranteed road. The firm said it was “under construction” for others, but it was notable that there was no construction work. Drivers did not choose the road, which costs 138.5 TL. The burden of the project fell on the shoulders of the citizens.

The Ankara-Niğde Highway, built with the build-operate-transfer (BOT) model and costing a total of 3.2 billion Euros, was opened about two years ago. However, due to the lack of roads, it started to be called "ghost" road. The project, which is 351 kilometers long, was implemented by ERG Otoyol Investment and Operation Inc. The road, consisting of three sections, was completed on 17 December 2020.

DATA IS DIFFERENT

According to the news of Mustafa Çakır from Cumhuriyet; Transport and Infrastructure Minister Adil Karaismailoğlu said that at that time, different vehicle guarantees were given in three segments.

Karaismailoğlu said, “We also know that these capacities cannot be provided in the first years of operation. The cost of the total investment is 3 billion 252 million Euros”. On the website of the company that built the highway, it was stated that the tender was won with a total investment cost of 4 billion 31 million 55 thousand 531 TL. It was noteworthy that there was a difference between the data presented by the minister and the company.

ONLY ONE FACILITY

Although the highway was opened in 2020, there is only one facility on it apart from the fuel station. That facility is located in Emirler, which is within the borders of Ankara. Other than that, there is no other facility on the highway which is kilometers long. Space is reserved for other facilities but is under construction. When the customer service of Ankara-Niğde Motorway is called, it is stated that other facilities are under construction. However, the progress of construction activity for these facilities is also not noticeable. Citizens using the highway have to wait hundreds of kilometers to be able to eat, drink, rest and go to the toilet.

The fare of the highway is 138.5 TL for cars. Compared to the old way, it is not preferred much. There are very few vehicles. There is almost traffic on the old road belonging to the Highways.

CITIZENS

The Minister also said that at the time when the highway was opened, the capacity could not be provided in the guarantees in the first years.

However, since a vehicle pass guarantee is given on the highway, the state will pay a difference for each vehicle that does not pass. This will still come out of the pockets of the citizens, even if they never use that highway.

351 KILOMETER LENGTH

Ankara-Niğde Highway is 351 kilometers long with its connection roads. Path; It passes through Ankara, Aksaray, Konya, Kırşehir, Nevşehir and Niğde. Few vehicles use the toll road. On the old road, there is congestion.

2020 BILLION EURO PAID IN 2.4

It is not known how many vehicles are guaranteed per day in the project. According to the report of the Court of Accounts, a guarantee of 2020 billion Euros was paid in 2.4 for the Ankara-Niğde Highway. The highway will be handed over to the public on 25 December 2035.