Turkey Starts Canal Project Amid Environmental, Regional Concerns

ISTANBUL - In a blaze of publicity, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan laid a foundation stone close to Istanbul, starting the construction of a 45-kilometer canal linking the Black and Marmara seas. Erdogan declared the project would usher in a new era for Istanbul and for Turkey.

“This going to be a brand-new page in Turkey’s development. On the path to this development, we will leap forward," he said, adding, "This will save Istanbul’s Bosphorus waterway.” The canal will provide an alternative route from the Bosphorus, which cuts through Turkey's biggest city, Istanbul, and is one of the world’s busiest waterways. Erdogan said the channel would offer a more efficient, faster and safer passage. But this month, Istanbul’s opposition mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, voiced alarm.