The Resilient Transportation Workshop, organized under the Istanbul SUMP
Stage II Implementation Plan Project and co-financed with the EU within the
framework of the Transport Sectoral Operational Program (USOP) managed by the
Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, was held on 29 January 2025.
In the opening speech by Seda Özdemir, Deputy Head of the Transportation
Planning Department of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, emphasized that
Istanbul should adapt to rapidly changing environmental and societal dynamics.
She stated that a disaster-resilient transportation system should not be
limited to keeping roads open but must also ensure that all segments of society
can move safely, supporting solidarity and sustainable living.
Following the programme, Otar Nemsadze and Ersoy Pehlivan from Rupprecht
Consult provided a detailed presentation on the Resilience Pilot Project, part
of the Istanbul SUMP project. The participants engaged in discussions on how to
make Istanbul's transportation infrastructure safer and more resilient to
disasters.
Economic, environmental, social, and technological factors were evaluated
to strengthen the transportation system against disasters such as earthquakes
and floods. Strategies and policy recommendations were outlined to enhance the
capacity for disaster response.
Coordination meetings were held with the recently assigned Contract Manager
of the Istanbul SUMP Project, Mr. Muhammet Kubilay Atlay, in parallel with the
workshop. During the meetings that were held with the project team and the
beneficiary, the organizational
structure and progress of the project were discussed, and the measures were
underlined in order to complete the project smoothly and on time.
The ongoing efforts toward creating a safer, more sustainable, and
resilient transportation network for the future of Istanbul were emphasized.