Turkish opposition alleges 12 billion lira public loss in T-26 tunnel project

A Turkish opposition lawmaker has accused the ruling party of a "tunnel heist" over the Ankara-Istanbul Railway line's T-26 tunnel project. Deniz Yavuzyılmaz, a member of parliament for the Republican People's Party (CHP) from Zonguldak, claims the project has resulted in public losses exceeding 12 billion lira (approximately $128 million).

Yavuzyılmaz stated that the infrastructure work for the T-26 tunnel, which began with a contract signed on July 11, 2006, was finally completed on June 11, 2026. This 20-year duration, averaging just 80 centimeters of progress per day, represents a "terrible world record" and a "complete disgrace," he argued.

According to Yavuzyılmaz, a State Railways inspection report indicates the tunnel's cost should have been around $60 million based on the contract price. However, the Turkish State Railways (TCDD) allegedly paid over $322 million to the companies involved. This discrepancy of $262 million, when converted to the current exchange rate, amounts to the claimed 12 billion lira loss.

"This astronomical amount paid to Cengiz and IC İçtaş could have been used to build five T-26 tunnels, or even 32 kilometers of tunnel instead of six," Yavuzyılmaz asserted. He specifically detailed the costs, including payments for faulty initial construction, a temporary bypass line, and subsequent contract amounts and increases, totaling $322,368,835. He labeled the situation as "AKP-style professional robbery."