Istanbul district residents want municipality to prevent state fraud via public housing project

The residents of Istanbul's Sultanbeyli district want the main opposition municipality to sign onto a public housing project from the state's Housing Development Administration (TOKİ) in an attempt to prevent profit-driven fraud by the state. The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has come under fire numerous times for signing extravagant state tenders to pro-government companies, especially in the construction industry.

Wednesday March 03 2021 10:17 am

Hacı Bişkin / DUVAR

Residents of Istanbul's Sultanbeyli district have been urging the Istanbul Municipality to sign onto a public housing project by the public Housing Development Administration (TOKİ) to prevent state fraud via extravagant tenders.

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is often criticized for signing redundant expensive tenders to pro-government companies to drive up private profit, especially in the construction industry that Ankara has funneled billions into during their time in office.

An avid defender of public-oriented urban development, Felicity Party Sultanbeyli Chair Fetullah Bülbül said that the locals need new parking lots and public areas to be created during the ongoing wave of urban transformation.

"TOKİ is in charge of the urban transformation here. We want the construction here to be conducted publicly because there's a lot of profit to be made," Bülbül said.

Considering the district is located on prime real estate between two urban forests and near the airport and highway, the residents are worried that the state project will be driven by financial incentives rather than the public's priorities.

In a report about the area's urban transformation, the Felicity Party encouraged the local government to form working groups with representatives from the community.