'Storm Drains Lowered to Road Level Before NATO Summit' Claim: ABB Responds

Ankara's Metropolitan Municipality has responded to social media claims suggesting that storm drains were newly lowered to road level specifically for the NATO summit. The municipality clarified that the maintenance and repair of storm drains and manhole covers to align with road levels is a standard, long-standing practice. These adjustments are routinely made as part of a regular maintenance program to address issues arising from asphalt renewals, traffic loads, and natural settling over time.

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Some social media posts contain claims that do not reflect the truth, suggesting that storm drains in Ankara were brought to road level for the first time before the NATO Summit.

The municipality emphasized that this work is not new, citing previous public announcements and news reports detailing similar maintenance efforts. A press release from February highlighted ongoing work to bring approximately 50,000 points of maintenance and repair to road level. A contract signed in October 2025 and initiated in October 2025 with a 600-day implementation period further supports the routine nature of these tasks.

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ASKI and Ankara Metropolitan Municipality have been carrying out maintenance, repair, and road-leveling work on storm drains and manhole covers across the city within the scope of a routine maintenance program for many years.

While acknowledging that traffic measures implemented for the NATO summit allowed teams to work more easily, safely, and quickly in certain areas, the municipality stressed this does not indicate new work. Instead, it facilitated the expedited completion of planned, ongoing maintenance. Therefore, presenting these routine tasks as a new initiative solely for the summit was deemed inaccurate.

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The only difference is that thanks to the traffic measures taken within the scope of the NATO Summit, our teams had the opportunity to work more comfortably, more safely, and faster in some points.