IETT, a long-established organization of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM), continues its new and innovative investments for public transportation. In this context, 150 more powerful and comfortable buses with smart transportation systems were purchased. The first 150 of the 20 new buses purchased by IETT joined the fleet. The remaining 130 will join the fleet by April 2024. Avcılar Mayor Turan Hançerli, Beylikdüzü Mayor Mehmet Murat Çalık, Küçükçekmece Mayor Kemal Çebi and CHP Başakşehir Mayor Candidate Mesut Öksüz also attended the "Istanbul's New Buses Promotion" program held at İETT's İkitelli Garage.
“THESE INSTITUTIONS ARE PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS”
"Our IETT institution is 153 years old and is one of the very special and ancient institutions of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality," said the Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. Ekrem İmamoğlu, “Last week, I attended a routine meeting with the retirees of our İSKİ institution. We had some friends from our previous general managers. There were people who contributed to that institution in the past. I was proud. Because İSKİ Istanbul's water administration is one of the ancient institutions that is over 90 years old and belongs to our Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. We are a valuable institution that takes original steps to deliver clean drinking water to our people's homes, wastewater management and especially in our period, in different jurisdictions, to ensure that Istanbul has a greener and more sustainable environment, especially in the valleys of life. While each institution must be carefully respected and its operations and transactions are always monitored, we, as a society, as administrators and also as political parties, need to be really careful when talking about these institutions, regardless of whether you are in different positions and positions. Because these are special institutions that have been handed down to us from past generations and that we are obliged to carry on to future generations. "This is exactly our institution that has perhaps the greatest duty in IETT public transportation in Istanbul," he said.
“IETT BUSES TAKE 32 TOURS AROUND THE WORLD”
Noting that IETT carries out up to 5 million trips a day, İmamoğlu said, “It carries out this at every point of our city day and night. So much so that the distance traveled by IETT in just one day is 1 million 255 thousand kilometers. In other words, IETT's buses cover enough distance to circle the world 32 times in one day. Our IETT manages such a valuable and important task and thousands of our people and employees; It offers a very special service to our 16 million people, from its managers to its workers. In this context, we brought 150 more powerful, comfortable, domestically produced buses with smart transportation systems to our city. 20 of them are currently behind me and will go on their missions as of today. They will start their duties on the lines. The delivery of the remaining 130 will be completed in the coming weeks and months, allowing the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality to rejuvenate and strengthen the bus fleet of our IETT institution, and especially with its vehicles of this capacity and size, in the areas that are missing on some lines, especially in the districts or on village roads. "We will continue to expand more effective service in these areas," he said.
“WE ARE EXPERIENCED IN SIGNATURE CRISIS”
İmamoğlu said, "Our effort is related to Istanbul receiving better service."
“By managing a truly generous budget, we are erasing waste from the memory of this city and bringing these beautiful services to Istanbul. May our 150 buses, along with our twenty buses, the beginning of which you see behind us, be beneficial and auspicious to our Istanbul. These are not the only vehicles we buy and want to buy. As you know, sometimes we experience a signature crisis. Sometimes signatures or decisions cannot be made at UKOME. For example, a decision regarding nearly 400 new lines is pending at UKOME. Or here are Beylikdüzü, Avcılar, Küçükçekmece, our three mayors are here. The tender for the Beylikdüzü metro, which we can start quickly at a stage where we have found the money and loans for approximately 3 and a half million people, does not guarantee a signature, a signature with an ink or a pen, for a work that we can do quickly. Look, with this signature we are only talking about a business that is included in the investment plan. In other words, one institution does not vouch for another institution. Istanbul is a reputable city. Istanbul is the most ancient and beautiful city in the world. Every institution in Istanbul is an institution of our state and nation and is reputable, especially if you manage the budget in a transparent, accountable, moral and virtuous manner like us, every financial institution in the world will pay special attention to you. There are managers who do not sign by keeping a pen and ink away from here, and who act in a manner that hinders our work with such moves. This is my sadness. This is like a participation in UKOME, a delegation that acts like people raising their hands, with instructions lined up side by side, and the signature that is not signed because of this, but there is more pain. "Within our own budget, we brought 5 metrobuses to the IETT institution of our Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality in our 252-year period."
“IF WE WERE NOT BLOCKED, WE COULD HAVE BOUGHT 300 MORE BUSES”
We brought 150 more buses, 293 of which are these new buses, to Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. Let's see, in a period of 4 and a half years, if we were not blocked, we could buy 300 more buses. Has there ever been a period that included so many intermediary institutions? We are also correcting years of neglect. Thereupon, 252 vehicles joined our system in the Islands, where we started a new order, a new system and where IETT started to provide service. In fact, we have brought nearly 800 vehicles in different statuses and environments to IETT, the institution of our Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.
“THEY TRIED EVERY WAY TO WEAR IT OUT”
IETT has reached a more successful level than ever before in history with this period and its services during this period. Of course, let me say this. We reached the summit together with so much success. They tried to get us to the top on another issue.
More than ever before, IETT has become the target of the government and its media. Do you know why? It's not that there's anything wrong with IETT. There are many measures taken such as inspections etc. in IETT, which is a service area that never falls behind the routine or average... Just to denigrate IETT is to go after the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality as if it had chosen a victim in this qualified work area. Ekrem İmamoğlu During his term as mayor, they tried every possible way through the press, media and their own political figures to wear down this ancient institution and its thousands of employees in an effort to tarnish it and weaken it.
“WE DO OUR BUSINESS ETHICALLY”
They were very shameful. They were very dishonest. Let me tell you something. They took actions and initiatives that would even put all the ancient services of IETT under suspicion. But let me tell you this. Anyone who acts with the mindset of making a profit by trying to harm these institutions cannot win in politics. He cannot win in humanity either. He can't win anything either. I think I won today. They strive to leave evil and a black mark on people's hearts. Thank God. This stain is not worth your brother, my companions, my colleagues, and over ninety thousand laborers and dedicated colleagues. Because we do our job ethically, qualified and with identity. The bad word belongs to the person who said it. That's what happened. It will remain so.
BUSES UNITED IN CORPORATE COLOR
We have done very good work, especially for the institutionalization of IETT. Let it be a private public bus. Even the purple colored operator vehicles, they are all united under the yellow corporate color of IETT. Why did we do this? So that we can provide much better quality service to the people of Istanbul.
It used to be a mess. No sir. There is such a malfunction, there is such a problem. Wow, that's a public bus. Yes, public bus. It has a different status. It has different areas of responsibility, but at the end of the day, it is under contract with Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and IETT. Areas that serve the people of Istanbul working in the fields. Therefore, in order to eliminate that lack of control, we gathered them under institutional control in the form of yellow vehicles. So what was happening in that uncontrolled order in the previous uncontrolled order? It is necessary to remember. Sometimes we forget easily. You know, they are messing with us, let them mess with us as much as they want. Look, in the previous period, unfortunately, there were dozens of fatal bus accidents in that uncontrolled time period.
IF WHAT WE DID WAS DONE AT THAT PERIOD, OUR 4 ISTANBUL CITIZENS WOULD HAVE NOT LOSE THEIR LIVES.
There were very painful events. Year 2014, private public bus had an accident in Beykoz Kavacık. And unfortunately the bus. Suddenly it bursts into flames. And unfortunately, four of our citizens lost their lives in the bus that burned in that fire.
Expert examination reveals a very painful truth. Why did a tragic fire break out at such an unexpected moment? It was seen that due to a great deficiency and great lack of control of the managers of the period, burnt oil was used in the existing vehicle instead of diesel fuel, according to expert reports. Four Istanbul residents lost their lives in that accident, and our citizens said goodbye to their lives due to the indifference of the administrators of the period and the delay in taking such measures. Now, what did this period bring us? We also cover the fuel for these vehicles, that is, those other vehicles. One of the safest places. Their fuel is put into vehicles in an immaculate manner and is tracked. It's that clear. If what we are doing now had been done back then, 4 of our citizens would not have lost their lives. Unfortunately, the past of those who accuse IETT today is full of such bad events that we do not even want to commemorate or remember.
“WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING HIDDEN”
Please do not listen to such bad words and bad images that serve people. Don't pay attention. Let me say this: We may be lacking, we will make mistakes. We are managers. We'll leave and apologize. We have nothing to hide from our nation. You saw that they set up a dam on the side of the road. They gave the job to an agency. You know, they call us an agency agency? They also received permission to shoot all over Istanbul. It is burning in front and behind the bus, an image that gives the impression of smoke... The man inside also explains it and says, poor man, we got 15 thousand liras. Who is the employer of the agency? Justice and Development Party. Look at justice and development. This is a very sad photo.
“THE MAYOR CANNOT EVEN BE OFFENDED WITH ONE PERSON”
The understanding of management is the only equivalent of people's understanding of service to society. Do you know what? Vote. Look, I remember it like it was yesterday. Pointing to Başakşehir, he appointed a friend of his instead of the understanding that forced the late Mr. Topbaş to resign from his position in the period before me. What did he say? He said, 'Of course, we will build a subway for those who voted for us.' They talked about this in front of the public and applauded him as if it were a rally. Some of his companions applauded him. I said, what kind of mayor is this? It's a shame. This is not the case. In other words, every person who becomes the mayor of a community is the mayor of everyone as of that day. I always say that the mayor cannot be offended even with one person. He can't even push someone's hand away. He is obliged to listen to everyone. He is responsible for dispensing justice. I thought it was weird. I take back those strange feelings I had towards that person. Because he's not at fault.
“WE PROVIDE VERY VALUABLE SERVICES”
Today, we provide very valuable services throughout Istanbul. We bring Istanbulites together with IETT's valuable innovative services. I just want to tell you about some of IETT's firsts.
For the first time in the history of IETT;
We brought domestically produced buses with a capacity of 280 passengers, double-articulated, powerful, comfortable and smart transportation systems to our city. As IMM, we carried out the first bus conversion from Diesel to Electric with our own means. We established 10 different Inspection Stations at national standards. By taking control of all Private Public Buses within IETT, we have implemented a comprehensive digital transformation project such as driver emotion-situation analysis and accident warning system in all these vehicles for the first time. We increased the closed stop rate in Istanbul from 35% to 46% for the first time. For the first time, we started to provide service in all 39 districts and increased the accessibility rate of IETT to 99%. Today, we have an IETT stop every 500 meters maximum throughout Istanbul.
WOMEN'S EMPLOYMENT
There has never been a female driver in the history of IETT. With the practice we started for the first time in this period, we started to employ our female drivers in IETT for the first time and today we have increased the number of female drivers to 155. We increased the number of female employees by 85% and tripled the number of female managers. To do all this, management skills, organizational and financial skills are required, and merit is required. To manage the nation's institutions with the nation's children. We represent such morality. But most of all, a sense of justice, love of homeland and nation is required. If you say, "We do not take the metro to places that do not vote for us," it is up to our citizens to teach them a lesson. Everything will be very nice. No matter how they try to describe a process, especially at the point of managers, even asking about the party of the passengers, we will continue to look at everyone as children of the nation.
OUR ENERGY IS VERY HIGH
We have been, and will continue to be, people who will set serving 86 million people equally as a goal and principle and will remain loyal to this. Believe me, with this understanding, our determination and energy are very high to carry Istanbul to much better days. Of course, we came here for 20 buses, but believe me, when you hear these words, you get worried and your heart hurts. We had to discuss these issues with our people. Tens of thousands of our people lost their lives in that earthquake we experienced tomorrow, that painful earthquake. It is the anniversary of the earthquake in which we lost our lives and our lungs were seared and shattered. Tomorrow I will be in Hatay. Together with our esteemed Chairman. As the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, we will hold the groundbreaking ceremony of a high school in Kırıkhan, with the attentive contributions of the valuable employees of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. We will bring a high school to Kırıkhan to provide our contributions during the earthquake period. Of course, our contributions and monitoring continue in the earthquake zone. Tomorrow, on the anniversary of this painful day, we will pray on behalf of the lives we lost, and we know that the economic standards of the people in our 10 cities who continue their lives there have fallen along with the lives we lost. We know that education standards have gone down. Living conditions are very bad. We know that some services were not delivered adequately and on time. But I promise you this. Regardless of our duty or position, I would like to convey to the people of that region that we will work day and night until we equalize the level of the people living in those 11 cities with the level of every person living in this country, and that we will provide the services for which the people living in that geography pray and thank us in order to be worthy of our nation. May God not embarrass us first with them, then with our nation, and then with our fellow citizens of Istanbul. May our buses be beneficial and auspicious to our Istanbul. I greet you all with love and respect.”
HIGH COMFORT AND SAFETY EQUIPMENT
Ekrem İmamoğlu After his speech, he received information from İETT General Manager İrfan Demet in front of 20 buses. The vehicles brought to Istanbul with an investment of approximately 1 billion TL attract attention with their comfort and safety equipment. The buses, which are 12 meters long and have a capacity of 100 passengers, have 300 horsepower. The vehicle has digital camera mirror systems, instant driver mood analysis and passenger counting systems. In addition, the ability to share vehicle data instantly with the Fleet Management Center, driver accident warning equipment, Telemetry System and view cameras for the driver are among the vehicle's other systems.