Canal Istanbul Still on Türkiye’s Long-Term Agenda: Minister

Türkiye’s Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu reaffirmed the government’s long-term commitment to the Istanbul Canal, stating that the project remains a strategic necessity, though not currently prioritized on the government’s agenda.

“We will definitely build the Istanbul Canal. We have never given up on it. We are just discussing the timing,” Uraloğlu said Thursday, addressing recent speculation surrounding the project’s future.

His remarks come shortly after Environment Minister Murat Kurum asserted that the canal is not an active item on the government’s current agenda, highlighting a seeming discrepancy that has stirred renewed public debate.

Contrasting Statements, Shared Message: Not Now, But Not Abandoned

Kurum clarified Wednesday that the recent housing developments near the planned route are unrelated to the canal, describing them as part of a pre-election social housing program designed for citizens who do not own property.

“These homes have no direct or indirect connection to the Istanbul Canal,” Kurum said.

While Uraloğlu emphasized the project is not being actively pursued at the moment, he underscored its strategic importance and reaffirmed that once the timing and financing align, construction will proceed.

“The Istanbul Canal is a necessity for Türkiye,” he said. “We will implement it when the time is right.”

Türkiye’s Largest Infrastructure Vision: Canal Istanbul

The Istanbul Canal is a planned 45-kilometer artificial waterway connecting the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara, intended to ease maritime congestion in the Bosphorus and reinforce Türkiye’s position in global shipping routes.

First announced in 2011 by then-Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the project officially launched in 2021 with the Sazlıdere Bridge groundbreaking.

Key design details include:

• Base width: 275 meters

• Depth: 20.75 meters

• Tanker capacity: Up to 275 meters long and 145,000 tons

The canal route will pass through Küçükçekmece Lake, Sazlıdere Dam, and eastern Terkos on Istanbul’s European side. Of the 453 million m² allocated for development, 30 million m² will be occupied by the canal, with the rest earmarked for transportation, housing, and green spaces.

Estimated at $15 billion, the project also aims to boost logistics, safety, and tourism, integrating with surrounding infrastructure, including Istanbul Airport.