Referans - The Turkish government intends to privatize highways and bridges in 2010. This long planned privatization scheme is expected to create an income of around USD 10 billion.
A new draft bill on the organization and duties of the General Directorate of Highways, paving the way for the privatizations, has been presented to the Prime Ministry. The General Directorate of Highways has been waiting for the past two years for the permission to privatize both bridges over the Bosphorus, linking the European part of Istanbul to the Anatolian side. The directorate also has plans to transfer some nine highway projects to the private sector. The privatization plans are expected to be implemented in 2010 following the approval of the aforementioned draft bill by Parliament.
Highways that are part of the privatization plans include the Edirne-Istanbul-Ankara highway, the Pozanti-Tarsus-Mersin highway, the Tarsus-Adana-Gaziantep highway, the Toprakkale-Iskenderun Highway, the Izmir-Ceşme highway, the Izmir-Aydin highway, the Gaziantep-Sanliurfa highway, as well as the intercity highways of Izmir and Ankara.
The operation rights for bridges and highways are planned to be transferred by concession agreements over a period of 20 to 25 years. Privatizations is expected to bring in about USD 10 billion. Many international and local companies are expected to show interest in privatization.