Erdo?an's giant Istanbul canal back on agenda with a new look

Kanal Istanbul, one of the planned giant projects in the city?s pipeline pushed by the government and President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an, will be a canal 43 kilometers long and 400 meters wide with six bridges, according to sources.

Erdo?an, who has dubbed the canal one of the ?crazy projects,? has called on related state bodies to accelerate the project, which has fallen off the agenda since being announced as a campaign pledge in the general elections four years ago.

The maximum height of the buildings to be constructed on the banks of the canal will be limited to six stories, creating a residence area for 500,000 people, far below the initial plan for 1.2 million, according to a decision that emerged from a recent meeting attended by the president and related state institutions, sources said.

Seljuk-style architecture will shape the basis of the project, which will turn the European side of Istanbul between the inner Marmara Sea and the Black Sea into an island.

Currently, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) headed Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality is in charge of the project.

The municipality will build two bridges over the canal in addition to four others undertaken by the directorate of highways.

The larger plot foresees new buildings to be constructed at gradual heights to create a city silhouette and the new area will also include villa-style buildings, sources said.

The 25-meter deep canal will allow tankers to by-pass the Bosporus sea traffic, thereby increasing safety on the busy waterway, the government argues. Fees for the speedy passage of ships through the new canal will also bring in money for Istanbul?s budget.

State institutions are said to be currently working on...