Construction of Korfezray metro begins in Kocaeli's bustling industrial zone, Turkey

In a significant move to improve its transportation infrastructure, Kocaeli, Turkey's leading manufacturing hub, is set to construct the Korfezray Metro Line. This ambitious project, touted as the largest single investment in Kocaeli's history, was recently broken ground on and is expected to revolutionise the city's urban mobility.

Turkey's Transport and Infrastructure Minister, Abdulkadir Uraloglu, attended the ceremony for the Korfezray Metro Line. The line will cover 28.5 kilometres (17.7 miles) and have 18 stations serving the districts of Korfez, Derince, Izmit, and Kartepe. Initially, the line is expected to serve 300,000 passengers daily, a number that may increase over time.

The Korfezray Metro Line is being built as a double line and will eventually stretch 57 kilometres, integrating fully with the city's tram, rail, bus, and sea transport networks. This integration aims to ease traffic, improve the quality of life, and boost Kocaeli's economic and socio-cultural development.

Since 2002, under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's leadership, Kocaeli has received ₺410 billion in transportation and communication investments. These investments have played a crucial role in the province's growth, with Kocaeli accounting for 44% of Turkey's automotive production, 27% of chemical production, and 19% of metal industry output. The province provides jobs for about 150,000 people and is home to 80 companies listed on the ISO 500, including Tupras, Ford, Hyundai, and Sisecam.

The Korfezray Line is not the only project in the pipeline for Kocaeli. Four additional urban rail lines totaling 76.9 kilometres are planned in Ankara, Istanbul, Samsun, and Konya. When ongoing and planned projects are completed, the length of urban rail system lines in Turkey will increase from the current 434 kilometres to 745 kilometres.

Meanwhile, Aliaga has become Turkey's 5th entry in the list of the world's busiest container ports. The length of operational urban rail lines in Turkey has reached 434 kilometres, with 89.1 kilometres currently under construction across six lines. The Korfezray Metro Line construction is progressing rapidly, with the Korfezray Line using six tunnel boring machines for its construction.

As the Korfezray project progresses, it's worth noting that Kocaeli is already a major economic powerhouse. The province contributed $119.36 billion to foreign trade in 2024, about 19.7% of the national total. With the Korfezray Metro Line and other planned projects, Kocaeli is poised to continue its growth trajectory, solidifying its position as a key player in Turkey's economic development.

For the latest updates on specific projects, it's recommended to follow the official announcements from the city administration or the relevant transportation ministry. Local news sources can also provide valuable insights into the developments and plans for transportation investments in the region.

Construction of Korfezray metro begins in Kocaeli's bustling industrial zone, Turkey