Decisions on Price Increase and Taxi Tender in IMM Council

The third session of the ISTANBUL Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Council was held in September. The council decided to hold a tender for 2,500 application-based taxis for individuals. In addition, the meeting decided to increase the fees of sports facilities such as indoor football pitches, basketball courts, and swimming pools belonging to IMM at different rates.

The third session of the September meetings of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Council was held in the IMM Saraçhane building under the chairmanship of the 1st Deputy Chairman of the Council Nuri Aslan. The Council unanimously approved the tender for 2,500 new application-based taxi transportation. On the other hand, the fee schedule for the Sports Facilities affiliated to the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Youth Services General Directorate was changed at the meeting.

The parliament has announced an increase in the rent and activity fees for facilities such as indoor sports halls, artificial turf pitches, swimming pools, and ice rinks belonging to IMM. Thus; citizens who rent the unlit outdoor artificial turf pitch belonging to the municipality for 150 liras per hour will pay 400 liras per hour following the 166 percent increase decision. For outdoor artificial turf pitches with lighting, which costs 250 liras per hour, 600 liras will be paid with a 140 percent increase. Indoor artificial turf pitch prices will increase by 125 percent from 400 liras to 900 liras. The monthly 12-day usage fee for swimming pool memberships, which was 40 liras, will be paid as 100 liras with a 150 percent increase. In addition, the service plate fee, which was determined as 209 thousand 88 liras in 2024, will be increased by 139 percent to 500 thousand liras.

‘IT IS UNACCEPTABLE TO INCREASE THE INFLATION FIGURES WAY MUCH ABOVE’

AK Party Assembly Member Adem Yıldız, stating that the increase is far above the inflation rate, said, “It is seen that 4 directorates have increased the prices of more than 200 services by 50% to 500%. We are faced with a serious price increase in individual branches such as hall rents, stadium rents, artificial turf rents, pool rents, advertising rents, swimming, fitness, cleaning, archery, mini golf, table tennis. It is unacceptable and has no explanation for these service items, which were increased at the inflation rate for 2024, to be increased again in 2024 far above the current inflation rates. For this reason, we are putting a dissenting opinion on the wage increases made.”

‘THE ECONOMIC SITUATION OF OUR COUNTRY HAS MADE THESE ESSENTIAL’

Tariff Commission Chairman and CHP Assembly Member Fatih Üstünbaş touched on the country’s economy and said, “It is not possible to continue these services under economic conditions. We have learned that the rate of increase in nursing homes where our state provides service has unfortunately increased by 360 percent. Of course, no one is happy about these increases. But unfortunately, the economic situation our country has reached has made these necessary.”

TENDER WILL BE HELD FOR 2,500 APPLICATION-BASED TAXIS

In the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Transportation Coordination Center (UKOME) meeting held on August 29, in addition to the 20,311 taxis in operation, a proposal for 2,500 new application-based taxi transportation was unanimously accepted. It was determined that the vehicles would only operate via applications that have an Electronic Transportation and Management License and that there would be a taxi system that could not pick up passengers from the road. The proposal discussed at UKOME also included the conditions that the vehicle type would be a T-plated taxi with a distinctive color and a different design, a taximeter triggered from the application, no beacon lights, passenger pickup only via the application and integrated taxi stands, and a security compartment. The report regarding the tender of 2,500 application-based taxis to be made to real persons was unanimously accepted in the IMM Assembly.