Speaking at the signing ceremony for 160 metrobuses purchased by İBB with its own resources, the President Ekrem İmamoğlu“About a year ago, a 300 million Euro borrowing authorization regarding the purchase of 1 buses from the IMM Assembly was passed unanimously. Unfortunately, for 90-9 months, this has been kept in Ankara, in the Presidency. There is not a single answer, not a single comment," he said. Stating that they are wondering who is the "magic hand" that prevents Metrobus approval and new taxi requests, İmamoğlu said, "From here, I am calling out to our Governor, to all the ministries and Presidency, which are the authorities of the institutions that send representatives to UKOME: Do not victimize Istanbulites. If you victimize the people of Istanbul, the people of Istanbul will not know you. Don't forget this. Don't. Believe me, it's useless. Making victims of 10 million Istanbulites is not politics. This is the behavior that everyone who says 'I love this city very much, I am even in love with this city' should fulfill it responsibly. We expect the same understanding from everyone. Do not prevent mistakes made in the past from being held to account. Do not allow us to take our investigations and hand them over to the Ministry of Internal Affairs inspector and let them wait there for months," he said.
A signing ceremony was held for the purchase of 160 buses that the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) added to the city's metrobus fleet with its own resources. IMM President, who attended the signing ceremony held at the IETT Garage in Edirnekapı Ekrem İmamoğluunderlined the necessity of renewing the metrobus fleet. “Unfortunately, some renewals, innovations or steps that need to be taken were neglected in our municipality by working with a strategic planning between 2009 and 2019,” said İmamoğlu, adding, “This is a very sad finding. No sane manager would want to say that. But we have to say. Why? Like this. And today, we are serving on the metrobus line with our fleet, which has reached the age of 10 on average, and its kilometer and average mileage has reached 1 million 150 thousand, and even some of our vehicles have reached 1 million 700 thousand kilometers. Technically, buses that have exceeded 1 million kilometers on the metrobus line should not operate here and should be renewed. I'm not saying this. This is the comment of our technical friends," he said.
“WHY HOLD THE PROCESS APPROVED BY THE ASSEMBLY?”
Reminding that the old fleet caused difficulties for Istanbulites from time to time and made citizens suffer, İmamoğlu said:
“Therefore, we wanted to take a step and speed up this process. About 300 year ago, a borrowing authorization of 1 million Euros regarding the purchase of 90 buses from the IMM Assembly was passed unanimously. Unfortunately, for 9-10 months, this has been kept in Ankara, in the Presidency. Not a single answer, not even a single comment. Why is a process that comes out of the parliament unanimously and where everyone approves with a common opinion and common mind put on hold? I leave it to the conscience of our people, to the interpretation of the people of Istanbul. Why? Because we do not look at our buses and our metrobus customers by saying, 'Which party did you vote for?' We serve 16 million Istanbulites. Those before us also served 16 million Istanbulites. Therefore, in order to provide these services in the healthiest way, not to disrupt the service, and to ensure all the safety of our citizens in the best way, every step taken for the continuity of the service should be evaluated in a supra-political way and decisions should be made. For the sake of political conflicts, some practices and decisions that will relieve the problems of Istanbulites should not be hindered. Very clear."
“WHO IS THIS MAGIC HAND?”
Emphasizing that they will resolutely continue to take the right steps in Istanbul, which is the apple of the eye of Turkey and the world, İmamoğlu emphasized that there is a similar problem in Istanbul transportation related to taxis. Stating that everyone knows that the existing taxis are not enough, İmamoğlu said, "Apart from the comments of the person speaking on behalf of the Ministry at UKOME, there is no one who does not know that the number of taxis is not enough and that the absolute taxi should be added. Why are the projects that we have presented in UKOME about increasing the number of taxis not approved? Why? What mind is this? It will be discussed and debated again at UKOME this month. Why is it desirable to prevent this in an environment where 16 million Istanbulites come to the fore with hundreds and thousands of complaints every day and where our people wait for a taxi sometimes for 45 minutes or 1 hour in such a prominent place? If anyone's mind, let them explain. Who is blocking? I am a ministry sözcüI repeatedly asked him whether his statements were his own. I didn't get such an answer. Then who is he speaking for? Who is this magic hand? From here, I am calling out to our Governor, all the ministries and Presidency that are responsible for the institutions that send representatives to UKOME: Do not victimize the people of Istanbul. If you victimize the people of Istanbul, the people of Istanbul will not know you. Very clear. Doesn't recognize. Don't forget this. Don't. These are vacancies. Believe me, it's useless. It is not politics to victimize 16 million Istanbulites,” he said.
“DO NOT OPPORTUNITY TO HOLD INVESTIGATION FILES”
Reiterating that they are ready for cooperation for every step to be taken in favor of Istanbul, İmamoğlu said, “We are responsible and responsible for running to whichever table we are invited to. We do what is necessary. Loving this city; It has to reduce the people, life, life, health and comfort of this city. This is the behavior that everyone who says 'I love this city very much, I am even in love with this city' should fulfill it responsibly. Therefore, we expect the same understanding from everyone in this sense.” Responding to some of the issues brought to the agenda, İmamoğlu said:
“Wow sir, It's done, it's done, no sir maintenance company, no this, no that. Two words describe all these words, all these allegations made by the opposition: Dry noise you know. Look, we will sign the bus made by Otokar and Akia companies in Bursa. We will not sign for a 65 million Euro dump that we don't know what it is, which costs almost 1 billion liras in today's money. Or we will not sign a job that we do not even know how it was obtained, that has dozens of question marks in it, and that even for years, a clear decision and opinion cannot be taken regarding their investigations. In front of 16 million people, we are signing off on a business that we will purchase with our own capital, by giving a price below the approximate cost, in a process carried out in a transparent manner and with open tender - we thank both companies. Therefore, the recipe is only one: Dry noise. Do not make dry noise; take these as an example. Do not make dry noise; Do not prevent the mistakes made in the past from being held to account. Do not allow us to take our investigations and put them in the hands of the Ministry of Interior inspector and wait there for months. Making a dry noise; Struggle so that a decision that was unanimously approved by our Parliament is not delayed. Don't make a dry noise.”
“I SAY TO THOSE MAKING DRY NOISE; ENJOY"
Pointing out that the vehicles are produced in Turkey and they are bought at a price below their approximate cost, İmamoğlu said, “They are enjoying the pleasure of presenting their perfect vehicles to Istanbul by pushing their technology at the highest level. I say to those who make dry noise; In two words, enjoy. Collaborate with us on other things that you will enjoy. For what? For the peace, life, happiness and healthy life of 16 million Istanbulites," he said. IETT General Manager Alper Bilgili also shared information about the features of the vehicles and payment processes in his speech. After the speeches; İmamoğlu, Bilgili, Otokar General Manager Serdar Görgüç and Akia Transportation İç ve Dış Tic. Inc. General Manager Remzi Baka signed the agreement regarding the purchase of the vehicles. İmamoğlu and the accompanying delegation examined the new metrobus vehicles.
FIRST DELIVERY AT THE NEW YEAR
The average age of 670 vehicles working on the metrobus line of IETT, one of the affiliates of IMM, increased to 10. When the Presidency did not approve the 300 million Euro foreign loan for 90 vehicles to renew the metrobuses, which caused intense complaints, for months, IETT took action to buy buses with its own resources. As a result of the tender held on August 5, 2021 and broadcast live, the offer of Otokar company for 21 buses with a length of 100 meters and the offers of Akia company for 25 buses of 60 meters were approved. The 21-meter-long Otokar buses to be purchased will have a capacity of 200 passengers. The vehicles currently used are 18,5 meters and 185 passengers can travel at the same time. 25 Akia buses with a length of 60 meters have a capacity of 280 passengers. The buses currently used are also 26 meters but can carry 225 passengers. The deliveries of the buses, 15 percent of which are paid in advance and the remainder are purchased with a maturity of 72 months, will be made from the first months of 2022.
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