Initial phase of urban transformation to start

ANKARA - Anatolia News Agency

Turkey’s massive urban transformation, which is expected to take 20 years, will begin next month with a ceremony. Some 6.5 million old buildings will be demolished.

Turkey’s multi-billion dollar urban transformation project, which is expected to keep the local construction sector active for years to come, will begin on Oct. 5 with an initial phase that includes the demolition of 150 public buildings in 33 provinces.

Police stations, military and primary school buildings, maternity hospitals and health care centers are among those buildings to be rebuilt. In total some 6.5 million at-risk buildings across the country will be demolished. The process will commence with a ceremony, which Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Environment and Urban Planning Minister Erdoğan Bayraktar are scheduled to attend.

The government attaches great importance to the urban transformation process, as Prime Minister Erdoğan had vowed to see it through even if it costs him political power.

The urban transformation process is estimated to take 20 years. Istanbul is home to the highest number of buildings to be demolished under the plan. Various demolition methods will be utilized under the urban transportation plan, including dynamite and construction equipment.

Urban transformation in Istanbul will begin with the demolition of 23 lodging buildings belonging to the Ministry of Defense in the Sarıgazi district and the Kadıköy Police Station’s service building on the Asian side of the city, as well as lodging buildings attached to Şişli’s Okmeydanı Hospital, Sarıyer’s İstinye Clinic, and the Rumeli Feneri Family Health Center on the European side.