Yildirim says Canal Istanbul project to be initiated in June

Transportation, Maritime and Communications Minister Binali Yildirim yesterday attended the Rivers and Lakes in Ottoman Empire International Symposium, hosted by Erciyes University in Kayseri and jointly organized by the Transportation, Maritime and Communications Ministry and the Forestry and Water Affairs Ministry. Speaking at the conference, Yildirim said that substantial progress has been made in the Canal Istanbul project. Stating that the work on project would be initiated in June, Yildirim said that Bosphorus would be used for entertainment and social purposes as part of the project.  "Alternatively, we have a canal project extending from the Black Sea to Marmara. The length of this project will be approximately 45 kilometers, and thus the entire load traffic will continue from the north to the south, bypassing the Bosphorus in Istanbul," Yildirim said, adding that they also aimed to build a very good airport in Kayseri. The two-day symposium will host 134 academics from Turkey and such countries as Canada and Sudan.