In current days, the incidents of accidents and breakdowns in public transportation automobiles affiliated with the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB), beneath the management of Mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu, appear to be on the rise. Commuters using public transportation discover themselves grappling with numerous challenges, together with pushing a malfunctioning bus, delayed routes and even dealing with deadly accidents.
The rising variety of points and the unresolved public transportation downside have gotten a mounting concern. According to consultants, this example is more likely to pose a problem for the present mayor, who’s working for reelection within the upcoming native elections.
According to the IBB Audit Committee’s 2022 Audit Report, ready by the municipality itself, the variety of bus breakdowns elevated by 56.77% in a single 12 months in comparison with 2021.
Not solely are residents coping with breakdowns, however in addition they dwell in concern of deadly bus or Metrobus accidents. In one of many accidents that occurred within the first week of 2024, an Istanbul Electric Tram and Tunnel Company (IETT) bus collided with a parked excavation truck at a building website exit, leading to accidents to the bus driver and eight passengers. Another incident close to Şükrübey Metrobus Station in Avcılar district in 2022 noticed two metro buses colliding head-on, leaving 99 individuals injured.
Some different deadly or injury-causing IETT accidents beneath Imamoğlu’s administration embrace:
A Metrobus in Okmeydanı misplaced management, hitting an promoting board after which the station awning. The collision triggered particles from the iron awning and promoting board to scatter onto the highway, injuring one individual on the Metrobus.
A pedestrian strolling on the Metrobus lane between Küçükçekmece and IBB Social Facilities stops was hit by a Metrobus pushed by E.Ok., injuring three individuals on account of sudden braking.
In Sarıyer, 4 individuals have been injured when an IETT bus, stopping to let passengers off, was rear-ended by one other IETT bus.
In Başakşehir, on account of a single lane brought on by metro building, two IETT buses collided head-on, injuring six passengers.
An IETT bus in Sarıyer allegedly moved after the motive force acquired off, colliding with 15 automobiles and injuring 4 individuals.
In Beylikdüzü, a driverless Metrobus collided with an oncoming Metrobus, leading to 9 accidents.
Near Haseki Station in Fatih, a tram collided with an IETT bus on the tracks, inflicting accidents to 6 individuals.
In Sancaktepe, a girl misplaced her life when an IETT bus struck her in an accident.
In Arnavutköy, an IETT bus collided with a panel van and a automobile at site visitors lights, injuring a pregnant lady within the automobile.
A tragic incident occurred in Bahçelievler, the place IETT driver Sefer Baldan misplaced management, crashing the bus right into a bus cease. Two individuals misplaced their lives, and three others have been injured within the incident.
Race for metropolis
On March 31, Türkiye will maintain native elections. In Istanbul, the race is predicted to be between two main candidates: Ekrem Imamoğlu and Murat Kurum. Imamoğlu is a former mayor of Istanbul’s Beylikdüzü district, whereas Kurum is a former setting and concrete planning minister and a candidate of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party).
Kurum is endorsed by the People’s Alliance which, together with the AK Party, contains its major ally Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and different smaller events within the opposition. His rival Imamoğlu, who gained the final election in 2019, is supported by the principle opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and its allies.
Critics accuse Imamoğlu of a string of failures from lingering issues in mass transportation on account of automobiles not correctly maintained, resulting in delays in bus schedules. He can also be beneath hearth for not helming the disaster administration within the metropolis at occasions of chaos, resembling a large snowstorm prior to now years and floods.
At the center of this dissatisfaction with the Imamoğlu administration lies a key subject: public transportation.
Traffic congestion has develop into a serious supply of discontent, with residents dealing with extended commutes and in search of sensible options to ease every day journey. The current public transportation community, designed to alleviate congestion, is perceived as falling in need of assembly the wants of Istanbul’s increasing inhabitants.
Complaints about overcrowded buses, Metrobuses and metro traces are widespread, contributing to discomfort and delays for commuters. The perceived lack of dependable companies has raised questions in regards to the metropolis administration’s capability to handle this basic side of city life.
Accessibility points add to the issue, with some neighborhoods feeling underserved and residents expressing frustration over restricted transportation choices, notably in outlying areas. The unequal distribution of service high quality has fueled a way of inequality and highlighted the necessity for a extra complete and inclusive public transportation technique.
“We will always be with Istanbul. We won’t just drop by at times,” Kurum mentioned, in one other jab at Imamoğlu who stirred up controversy by touring different cities at occasions of disaster.
Istanbul, because the nation’s largest metropolis and financial hub, stands as a focus in Türkiye’s political panorama, appearing as a stronghold for numerous political actions. The end result of the elections is greater than the appointment of a mayor; it has the potential to both reinforce current political dynamics or signify a shift within the broader political steadiness. The mayor of Istanbul holds a place of appreciable affect, impacting native governance and insurance policies with resonance on the nationwide stage.
Source: www.dailysabah.com