Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Marmaray, the railway tunnel underneath the Bosphorus Strait, which has opened on Tuesday, will be free of charge for 15 days.
“Marmaray, the railway tunnel underneath the Bosphorus Strait, both dignifies Republic of Turkey and also we have proved to have fulfilled such a project with a democratic republic in stability and solidarity”, said Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Marmaray, linking European and Asian sides of Istanbul, has been opened on Tuesday.
Speaking at the inauguration of Marmaray, Erdogan extended his gratitude to the participants including Somali President Hasan Sheikh Mahmud, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta as well as ministers from 8 different countries.
“The project of the century, Marmaray, has opened on the 90th anniversary of the foundation of Republic of Turkey,” said Erdogan. “It both dignifies Republic of Turkey and also we have proved to have fulfilled such a project with a democratic republic in stability and solidarity.”
Marmaray will be free of charge for 15 days, said Erdogan.
13.6-kilometer-long tunnel links Asian and European sides and it is 60 meters below the sea. It will take 4 minutes to cross from the European side to the Asian side.
The idea of the railway tunnel underneath the Bosphorus Strait was first introduced by Ottoman Sultan Abdulmedjid in 1860.
Anatolia News Agency
