Transport and Infrastructure Minister Uraloğlu provided information about transportation investments and projects in Samsun in his speech at the opening ceremony of Samsun City Hospital.
Uraloğlu argued that the work carried out to date under the AK Party’s approach of service and development-oriented politics had not been surpassed by any other political approach. He said investments had been made in highways, railways, aviation, maritime transport, communications and digital infrastructure under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Divided highway network reaches 30,205 kilometers
Uraloğlu said Türkiye’s divided highway network had been expanded from 6,101 kilometers to 30,205 kilometers and that 77 provinces had been connected to one another by divided highways. He also said that Samsun had previously not been connected to any province by divided highways.
Uraloğlu noted that Türkiye’s high-speed railway network had reached 2,251 kilometers, making the country the sixth-largest high-speed railway operator in Europe and the eighth-largest in the world.
Uraloğlu said the number of airports had been increased from 26 to 58 and that Türkiye could now operate flights to 356 destinations in 133 countries. He said flights had previously been possible to 60 destinations in 50 countries.
Phased work on Samsun-Ankara high-speed train line
Uraloğlu announced that construction was continuing on the section from Kırıkkale to Çorum of the high-speed train project that will reach Samsun. He said the sections covering Merzifon, Çorum and Havza had been put out to tender and that work on this part was planned to begin in the first months of next year.
Uraloğlu said the tender for the line that will reach Samsun via Havza and Kavak would also be held next year, adding that rail travel between Samsun and Ankara would take 2.5 hours once the project was completed. He said the journey currently takes 4 to 5 hours by road and 6 hours by bus.
Uraloğlu said Özgür Özel had stated during his visit to Çorum that they would complete the high-speed train project themselves. Uraloğlu said they had not left unfinished any project they had started and that they would be the ones to complete the line.
Çarşamba Airport capacity to be increased
Uraloğlu said work would be carried out to enable Samsun Çarşamba Airport to provide more modern, higher-capacity services, and announced that a new 29,120-square-meter domestic and international terminal would be built at the airport.
Uraloğlu said the airport’s passenger capacity would be increased from 2 million to 3 million. He said Samsun was developing in the fields of industry, infrastructure and the defense industry, adding that transportation investments would continue.
Speaking about the importance of Samsun City Hospital, Uraloğlu thanked those who had contributed to its construction. He said investments would continue to carry Türkiye into the future and increase its level of prosperity.
