Cars out of Taksim, Turkey’s new economic plan says
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The Turkish government’s new economic plan stipulates a policy that would introduce a fee on motor vehicles in metropolitan city centers, including Istanbul’s Taksim neighborhood.
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu announced nine of the 25 transformational economic programs at a press conference Nov. 6. Besides ambitious macroeconomic targets, like increasing Turkey’s GDP from $800 billion to $1.3 trillion by 2018, Davutoğlu said the first nine-point plan includes 417 action plans that will affect the daily lives of citizens.
Some of the proposed policies on transportation have sparked public debate. To decrease energy inefficiency and traffic congestion, particularly in Istanbul and Ankara, the government’s plan involves limiting motor vehicle presence in city centers like Taksim and Kızılay. Those using automobiles will pay a fee to travel in these areas with a new system called Smart Transportation System (AUS), according to the plan.