Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality Co-Mayor Doğan Hatun made important statements about the long-awaited tram project. Hatun stated that the Dağkapı-Gazi Yaşargil Education and Research Hospital Tram Line project will be put out to tender within 6 months and will be put into service within 3 years at most. This project is seen as a critical step that will transform urban transportation.
A 15-Year Dream Comes True
Hatun stated that the tram project has been an investment awaited for the people of Diyarbakır for 15 years. She stated that the project could not be implemented in the past years because the Treasury Ministry did not provide a guarantee. The project, which was also on the agenda during the trustee period but could not be started, is being implemented with serious effort and planning in the new period. According to Hatun, this project will not only create a tram line, but will also allow for more efficient use of existing bus lines. The tram, which will ease the burden of public transportation in the city, will provide comfortable and uninterrupted transportation.
Inclusion of the Project in the Investment Program
The fact that there are no rail systems in Diyarbakır to date makes the project even more critical. Hatun, who stated that there was no experienced unit in the field of rail systems in the municipality, said that this deficiency was remedied and an expert team was established. The project was submitted to the Presidency Strategy Unit Presidency, received approval and was included in the investment program. In order to receive support from international financing sources, it was necessary to include it in the investment program and this stage was successfully completed.
Funding and International Support
Negotiations were held with various international organizations to provide financial support for the tram project. The agreement reached with the French Development Agency in particular provided the project with great financial security. While the investment support from France will cover more than 50 percent of the project, Diyarbakir Metropolitan Municipality will also contribute 20 percent of its budget. Unless there are serious financial obstacles, the project is expected to proceed as planned.
Tender and Application Process
The municipality states that it is aware of the technical deficiencies in the tram project and is proceeding meticulously in order not to make mistakes. For this reason, the project was planned in detail with expert teams. While the technical details are being worked on with the support of the expert team from France, it was announced that the tender phase will be started within 6 months at the latest. Since the municipality's credit status is positive, no problems are expected in terms of financing.
Project Completion Time
Co-chair Doğan Hatun said that they planned to complete the project and put it into service within a maximum of 3 years. It was stated that the expert team from France will closely monitor the process for 3 years and that the necessary corrections will be made in a timely manner to avoid any disruptions.
Hatun stated that the project is being carried out by reliable hands in terms of finance and technical aspects and therefore no major problems are expected. The municipality also emphasizes that they will adopt a transparent management approach at every stage of the project and inform the public.
Contributions to Diyarbakir
With the opening of the tram line, there will be a great relief in transportation in Diyarbakır. According to Hatun, when the tram is put into service, it will be possible to distribute the existing bus lines more efficiently throughout the city. In addition, the precise determination of the travel time and the minimization of disruptions will provide great comfort for citizens.
This revolutionary project in Diyarbakır's transportation infrastructure gives hope for the future of urban transportation. Municipality officials state that they are aware of the public's interest in the project and that they will continue to manage the process meticulously.
