Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu met with members of the press in Iğdır and shared important details about current transportation projects. His most striking remarks focused on the Zangezur Corridor. Once completed, the corridor will connect Turkey directly to the Turkic world and the Far East through the shortest route. According to the Minister, the project will have a freight capacity of 15 million tons.
He underlined that, within a 30-year projection, the corridor is expected to generate 147.6 billion lira in total economic gain. This figure will not only come from transportation but also from operating revenues, accident prevention, environmental benefits, time savings, and reduced road maintenance costs.
Speaking ahead of the groundbreaking ceremony of the Kars-Iğdır-Aralık-Dilucu Railway Line, Uraloğlu emphasized that the Zangezur Corridor will also strengthen the Middle Corridor, providing a significant time advantage compared to maritime transport. He noted that this investment should be seen not only as an economic but also as a strategic move. Referring to the İzmir–Istanbul Highway, which triggered the establishment of 12 organized industrial zones, Uraloğlu said a similar development effect can be expected from this project.
The Minister also touched on cooperation with Syria regarding transportation. He announced a new agreement that will allow trucks to cross the border without unloading and reloading their cargo. A trilateral meeting between Turkey, Syria, and Jordan is planned for the autumn to professionalize regional transport operations. In addition, work continues on the reconstruction of the destroyed railway line between Gaziantep and Aleppo, while Turkish companies have already won the tender for the renovation and expansion of Damascus Airport. A similar process is underway for Aleppo as well.
On earthquake safety, Uraloğlu stressed that all new transportation projects are being built in line with current seismic regulations. He added that suspension cables on Istanbul’s bridges have been replaced and that risky structures are being strengthened step by step. In Ankara, the Esenboğa Metro project is under revision, with plans to finalize and tender it next year. The Minister also stated that new arrangements regarding speed limits and pedestrian crossings would be implemented by the end of the year.
In conclusion, the Zangezur Corridor stands out not only as one of Turkey’s most ambitious transportation projects but also as a game-changing development for regional trade and international logistics networks.
