New Turkish Marmaray tunnel profitable for Bulgaria
30.10.2013
The new Turkish Marmaray tunnel is already a fact. It passes under the Bosphorus and connects both Europe and Asia. Moreover, this accomplished project turns out to be profitable for Bulgaria especially due to the increased road and rail fees of passing trucks and trains and the interrelated transport activities between the both countries. Bulgaria and Turkey share support activities such as marketing and service.
However, this plan will be delayed because of the bad road and rail infrastructure in our country. This project is anticipated to be successful for Bulgaria from 2015. Certain rail sections need to be rehabilitated such as Dimitrovgrad-Svilengrad (65 km) and September-Plovdiv (53 km). Germany and Austria are ready to send transit trains provided Bulgaria improves its railway conditions. This is considered top priority for the Ministry of Transport and their main issue will consist in providing finances for updating the above mentioned raiway lines according to the new operative programme ‘’Transport 2014-2020’’.
Marmaray tunnel is an undersea rail tunnel and its construction started in 2004. Its initial opening date was April 2009 but the reason for its delay were historical finds. On October 29, 2013 this ‘’project of the century’’ turned into an accomplished target for about 150 years up until now! Its longest stretch extends over 13.6 km and 1.4 km will travel 60 meters underwater. This tunnel seems to be one of the most important strategic facilities regarding intercontinental transport. An opening ceremony has taken place on the Asian side of Istanbul and it has been attended by a number of tourists,officials among who the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Victor Ponta, the Romanian Prime Minister and Danail Papazov, the Bulgarian Transport Minister.
Major financial funds have already been provided and the total cost amounts to USD 2.5 billion. Archaeological finds caused certain cost increase by about USD 500 million but Recep Tayyip Erdogan told local media that a dream for 150 years turned nowadays into reality and the transport of millions of busy people would be significantly facilitated!