Ankara Metropolitan Municipality is implementing an important project that will address the transportation problem in the eastern axis of the capital: Dikimevi-Natoyolu Light Rail System Line. This line, which will be 7,46 kilometers long and consist of 8 stations, will provide fast, comfortable and environmentally friendly transportation to the people of Mamak. The groundbreaking ceremony of the project was held today (June 13, 2025), officially starting the long-awaited construction process.
Solution to Traffic Problems: Fast and Environmentally Friendly Transportation
The Dikimevi-Natoyolu Metro Line is expected to reduce vehicle congestion, especially in the morning and evening hours. This new system will provide a permanent solution to the traffic problems of Mamak residents that have been going on for years, and will also create a modern transportation alternative by increasing public transportation capacity in the east of the capital.
Statements from Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony held in Akşemsettin Neighborhood, Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş touched upon the importance of the project:
“We are building a brand new line for our neighborhoods on the eastern axis of Ankara that have been waiting to be included in the metro network for years. The Dikimevi-Natoyolu Metro Line, which will pass completely underground, will be 7,46 kilometers long. We will have 8 stations on this line.”
Great Savings Made in the Tender Process
Mayor Yavaş drew attention to the difficulties in the project's tender process and the significant savings achieved:
“We held our first tender on January 15, 2024. However, the bids received were much higher than expected. The lowest bid was over 575 million Euros. Since this figure was not compatible with our principle of protecting public resources, we cancelled the tender. As a result, in the tender we held on November 22, 2024, We received an offer equivalent to 387 million 850 thousand Euros. This new bid is approximately 6,7 billion liras lower. In other words, a significant amount of savings has been achieved.”
Municipality's Debt Burden and Metro Projects
Yavaş also touched on the financial difficulties the municipality has faced since they took office:
“They criticize us for not building the metro, but since we took office, we have We paid off 6 billion lira of debt. "This corresponds to a 45-kilometer-long metro line. When we took office, there was not a single approved metro project included in the investment program in Ankara."
Infrastructure Barriers and Legacy of the Past
While explaining the difficulties in the construction process of the new metro line, he drew attention to the impact of the infrastructure works carried out in previous periods:
“In order to build a new metro line, the route had to be determined first, and then the survey and feasibility studies had to be carried out. However, this process was more difficult than we expected. Because between 1994 and 2018, a total of 169 bridges, tunnels and interchanges were built throughout Ankara. These structures were positioned in a way that would block a large portion of the planned metro corridors.”
Project History and Tender Process Details
The Dikimevi-Natoyolu Line Project was actually suspended in 2011 after the construction of other lines in Ankara was transferred to the Ministry of Transport. The first phase was planned to be put into service between 2015-2018. Following the end of Melih Gökçek's term in Ankara Metropolitan Municipality, the construction of the line was brought back to the agenda during the Mansur Yavaş period. Following the application made to the ministry, the line, Transferred to ABB on March 12, 2021.
The first pre-qualification of the line was held on August 15, 2023, the second stage on November 9, 2023 and two pre-qualifications on January 8, 2024. However, the tender was canceled after the companies participating in the qualification bid higher than the expected price. Therefore, although the project schedule was slightly extended, a more cost-effective agreement was reached.
New Line with 8 Stations
According to the announcement made by EGO General Directorate, there will be a total of 8 stations on the Dikimevi-Natoyolu Metro Line, also known as the Mamak Metro. The stops of the planned 7,46-kilometer metro line will be as follows:
- Abidin Pasha
- Asik Veysel
- Tuzlucayir
- General Zeki Dogan
- Fahri Koruturk
- Genghis Khan
- Akşemsettin
- NATO Road
