August 31, 2009 07:45 by
haciDay by day, we are nearing the targets that we have determined for an Istanbul that is worth living in. At the current point, where civilization has reached, we are trying to enable Istanbul to gain everything she needs in the name of city planning, through the most planned and organized means. With its splendor and its history, this blessed land, which has guided many civilizations, inspires us too, and multiplies our dedication and ardour to serve.
When we look back, we see that all problems that we have successfully handled are now resting in the depths of history with all their extensions. We do not talk about them any more. As a result of all the services that we have produced so far varying from environmental investments to transportation projects, and from cultural movements to our social efforts to shelter the poor, we embrace Istanbul.
We have been showing significant progression in the processes that will solve the problem of transportation, which congests the veins of Istanbul. Before New York, we have provided that our subway reaches the airport. We have increased the length of the railway system to 42 km and carried on working on various routes in order to further increase this amount to 250 km. As a result of the works on transportation, we have shrunk the home-work distance to 36 minutes from 59 minutes. Through the completion of our short and mid term projects, we will decrease this duration down to 25 minutes.
Our aim is to make public transportation attractive. This depends on the transportation systems to be comfortable, fast, safe and cheap. In this sense, railway systems form the spine of public transportation. We are knitting railways all over Istanbul. We are developing marine transportation, increasing the capacity of highway public transportation and technologically modernizing it.
We have been working on a thorough integration to be provided between different types of transportation both in physical sense and in economic time-wise sense. In this framework, we trust in IETT`s experience of a century.
IETT, as part of the progression it has shown in its 132nd year of service, has undertaken the responsibility of our railway system projects. Focused on new targets, IETT, for the first time since many years, has maintained equilibrium in its budget, as a result of the projects it has successfully completed in 2002. It has successfully made use of its dynamism in reorganizing itself. Consequently, it has become one of the greatest dynamics that will enhance the life quality of Istanbul citizens through the projects the responsibility of which it has undertaken under the 2003 concept. Using information technologies, it has developed the "e-iett" concept in order to provide a much more planned and fast flow of information for Istanbul. This site that IETT has opened, in addition to being a door leading to a consciousness of citizenship, will become a rapid tool to solve the transportation problems of Istanbul citizens in a systematic way.
We are a group of staff that has mobilized its existence and ego for solving the problems of centuries. We are working to raise the life standards to civilized levels through making use of the contributions of Istanbul citizens. We have been accelerating our efforts through the "Istanbul - My city" project. We are preparing our Istanbul for future days by the great works that we have brought to being. In this way, we are eliminating all kinds of possibilities that may slow our generation down in the race of civilization.
In all dimensions, we are restructuring our city as a civilized world city. Istanbul citizens are now sure that the future days will be much better.
Let us share the joy and happiness of serving this remarkable city, in the 550th anniversary of Istanbul`s conquest. With greetings and respect.
http://www.iett.gov.tr
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