Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 4
By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:
The route of the Istanbul Channel (Kanal Istanbul) in Turkey can be changed, says Binali Yildirim, Turkish minister of transport, shipping and communications.
Yildirim said the change in the channel's route is due to a number of geological problems, Turkish news channel TGRT Haber reported Feb. 4.
The main purpose of the project to build the Istanbul Channel is to reduce the marine traffic through the Bosphorus strait. Oil tankers are mainly planned to pass through the new channel.
"Its [the channel's] construction is expected to be completed by 2023," the minister added.
The channel is to have a length of 45 to 50 kilometers, a depth of 25 meters, and a width of 145 to 150 meters.
The channel's construction project is worth of $20 billion.
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