Mayor of Balıkesir Metropolitan Municipality Yücel Yılmaz invested 565 million liras in transportation by saying 'We care about Bandırma and the people of Bandırma'. 55 new 2023 model buses, which were newly brought to Bandırma, started to operate on Bandırma roads. Buses in Bandırma are free of charge for citizens for a week.
Mayor of Balıkesir Metropolitan Municipality Yücel Yılmaz makes great investments in transportation all around the city by saying 'people first'. Mayor Yılmaz, who provides many services from asphalt to refuge, from road lines to buses, has now brought 55 new Otokar Centro brand buses, which are suitable for the terrain conditions of Bandırma, comfortable, high quality and environmentally friendly 2023 model, to the district. The buses, which were put into service with a ceremony in Bandırma Cumhuriyet Square, were put on display. After the ribbon cutting, Mayor Yılmaz took the steering wheel and the new buses made their first trip. Bandırma District Governor Engin Aksakal, Otokar Domestic Market Sales and Marketing Director Murat Tokatlı, Balıkesir Chamber of Drivers and Automobilists President Rıza Tekin, Bandırma Transportation Services Chairman Ayhan Soylu, drivers and many citizens attended the ceremony hosted by Mayor Yılmaz.
THE BUSES ARE FREE FOR A WEEK
Stating that they came to Bandırma with their saddlebags full, Mayor Yılmaz said, "We have changed all of the vehicles that have been tired for years, and they are being put into service today. Good luck to them. Bandırma has a high level of education, it is the apple of Türkiye's eye and a place where all kinds of production can be done. We do not want to neglect anything. Buses are free of charge for all Bandırma residents for a week."
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY BUSES
Mayor Yılmaz continued his statements as follows:
We took responsibility for the renewal of the vehicles of our tradesmen and for our citizens to receive more comfortable transport services. Since 2019, we have brought 65 CNG buses powered by compressed natural gas to Balıkesir Centre and 25 Centro brand buses to Edremit, which are suitable for the terrain conditions of the Gulf region. Now, together with our driver tradesmen in Bandırma, we are putting 55 Centro brand buses into service, which are compatible with the terrain structure of the region.
WE INCREASED THE NUMBER OF OUR LINES TO 220
While public transport is carried out with 22 lines and 97 vehicles in Bandırma, we are making transportation more comfortable with a total of 152 vehicles with our new 55 vehicles. A total of 152 environmentally friendly buses are in the service of the people of Bandırma as of today... Our buses have 25 per cent less carbon emission and environmentally friendly engine feature compared to existing vehicles with Euro 6 engines. We made a move in urban transport throughout the city. In 2019, we were serving 158 lines throughout the city. Now; we serve with 220 lines.
MANY GRIEVANCES RESOLVED
At Bandırma Terminal, we have put into service the Vehicle Washing and Staging Station in order to provide maintenance-repair, cleaning and parking of the vehicles of our driver tradesmen in a more comfortable way. With our new buses and services, we eliminate the frequent breakdowns of vehicles, lack of air conditioning, seat quality and cleaning problems with our new buses and services.
565 MILLION LIRAS INVESTMENT IN TRANSPORTATION OF BANDIRMA
Boarding in our Bandırma district will be done with an electronic card. Apart from 55 new buses, we provided support to our tradesmen by carrying out maintenance-repair-modernisation of 42 vehicles worth 10 million liras. A total investment of 565 million liras was provided to our Bandırma by our Metropolitan Municipality, including bus purchases, modernisation and physical arrangements, washing and supply place. We have achieved a great transformation in the transport system, from driver to bus comfort, from increasing the number of buses to reducing waiting times.
