Currently, projects are being implemented to complete the missing transport links in the east-west and north-south directions in Türkiye, so that the Middle Corridor (Trans-Caspian International Transport Route) becomes a new Silk Road, said Abdulkadir Uraloglu, Turkish Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Report informs.
Uraloglu noted that in this context, the Belt and Road Initiative, which will connect Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, is considered a very important opportunity for Türkiye: "Realization of the Iron Silk Road from London to Beijing is one of our main goals."
The minister emphasized that the share of railway transportation in Türkiye, which is currently 4%, is expected to increase to 11% in 2029 and 22% in 2053:
"Thus, the share of railways in cargo transportation in Türkiye will increase 7 times by 2053. In addition, we aim to increase the share of railways in international cargo transportation by 10 times. In total, in the last 21 years, we have invested about 880 billion liras (32.359 billion US dollars) in railways."