Turkey: Ispartakule-Cerkezkoy Rail Project (Previously: Halkali-Cerkezkoy Rail Project)

approved

The Project will finance the construction of 67 kilometers of new double-track, electrified, high-speed railway from Ispartakule station to a location adjacent to the east of Cerkezkoy Station (approximately 1km from the center of Cerkezkoy). It consists of three components as described below. Component A. Construction works of a 67km section of new high-speed railway line designed as 200km/h max speed, double track, electrified railway and the required systems, including ERTMS Level 1, power supply and auxiliaries; from Ispartakule station, to just before Cerkezkoy station, as well as the construction supervision contract. Component B. Capacity development and technical assistance to the PIU on project management, procurement, monitoring, contract implementation, financial management and environmental and social activities, facilitating the timely and effective implementation of the Project by providing assistance to the General Directorate of Infrastructure Investment (AYGM). Component C. Livelihood Restoration Activities as per EBRD PR5 (RAP Fund). A designated Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) Fund will be created to cover the costs of livelihood restoration compensation that are not covered by the national expropriation budget. Turkish legislation does not provide compensation to informal land users, income losses for businesses and transactional costs which are covered, along with a contingency, in the RAP Fund to achieve the livelihood restoration requirements of EBRD PR5. The Project will be jointly cofinanced by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and AIIB (the Cofinanciers) and will follow the arrangements set by the agreement between the Cofinanciers signed in April 2021. Therefore, EBRD Environmental and Social Policy (2014) (EBRD ESP), EBRD Procurement Policies and Rules (2017) (EBRD PPR), and EBRD Independent Project Accountability Mechanism will apply in lieu of AIIB Environmental and Social Policy (AIIB ESP), AIIB Procurement Policy, and AIIB Project-affected People's Mechanism, respectively.