Tanrıkulu Asks Prime Minister about Haydarpaşa

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Republican People’s Party (CHP) İstanbul MP Sezgin Tanrıkulu has made an inquiry to parliament on request to be responded by Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım following reports in the press of an information request made to Kadıköy Municipality from the Privatization Administration Ministry.

The request, “within the framework of works to be included in the scope and program of privatization to be carried out,” encompassed an area of 400 thousand square meters including the historical Haydarpaşa Terminal and parts of the Kadıköy harbor.

Recalling that a fire had broken out on the roof of Haydarpaşa Terminal on November 28, 2010, Tanrıkulu highlighted the following points in his inquiry:

Travel suspension

Citing the High-Speed Train Project, since February 1, 2012, train travel all over the country and since June 18, 2013, suburban train travel has been suspended.  

Hotel project

“Kadıköy Municipality had filed an annulment action against Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality’s 2012 plan to convert Haydarpaşa into a hotel and the 1 million square meters surrounding it into a business and tourism area”.

The areas requested in Kadıköy Municipality

“The areas in question, all public areas, all areas under the ownership of the Republic of Turkey’s Government Railroads (TCDD), Maritime Lines of Turkey A.Ş., the Agricultural Products Office and the Treasury of Finance, the master plans, the maps, the zoning status documents, Haydarpaşa Terminal and surrounding areas, Haydarpaşa Terminal Harbor, Bread and Fish Institutions locations along with Mouth and Teeth Health Centers, are included in the reports published in the press”.

Inquiries

Tanrıkulu directed the following questions at Prime Minister Yıldırım:

* What are the projects planned for the historical Haydarpaşa Terminal and harbor and the related 400 thousand square meters “within the framework of works to be included in the scope and program of privatization to be carried out?”

* What is the reason behind suddenly entering into the scope of privatization of the historical Haydarpaşa Terminal and harbor, taking into consideration that OHAL (State of Emergency) has just been announced in Turkey?

* Are the allegations true that the master plans, maps, and zoning status documents belonging to Haydarpaşa Terminal and the area behind it, Haydarpaşa Terminal Harbor, Fish-Bread Establishments’ locations and Mouth and Teeth Health Centers have been requested?

* Citing the High-Speed Train Project, since February 1, 2012, train travel all over the country and since June 18, 2013, suburban train travel has been suspended. Kadıköy Municipality filed an annulment action against Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality’s 2012 plan to convert Haydarpaşa into a hotel and the 1 million square meters surrounding it into a business and tourism area. Given this status, are the allegations true that it has been decided since 2012 to implement the relevant areas under the scope of privatization?

* If it is considered that the inquired areas are public areas, between 2010 and 2016 as of the date of 12 August, which public areas, by district, have been inquired as “within the framework of works to be included in the scope and program of privatization to be carried out?”

* Will steps be taken so as to remove the program and scope of privatization of the historic Haydarpaşa Terminal and harbor? (EKN/KT)