PodcastTurkish drivers made to wait at Osmangazi Bridge ahead of toll hike
Drivers wanting to cross the Osmangazi Bridge in northwestern Turkey were made to wait on the night of Dec. 31, just before the increased tolls came into force. When the incident was widely condemned on social media, the company operating the bridge released a statement of apology, saying the incident had resulted from “technical malfunctions.”
Duvar English
Turkish drivers were made to wait at the Osmangazi Bridge -- linking the cities of Yalova and Gebze in northwestern Turkey -- just minutes before the toll fees increased in the first hours of Jan. 1.
The toll booths went out of service five minutes before the increased prices came into force. A video that was widely circulated on social media showed drivers protesting this move by blowing horns as they lined up at the toll booths.
One of the citizens asked a bridge employee why they had stopped giving service. The employee refused to give an answer when he saw that he was being recorded.
When the incident was widely condemned on social media, Otolyol Inc., the company operating the bridge, released a statement of apology, saying the incident had resulted from “technical malfunctions.” The company said that the drivers who tried to cross the bridge between 23.50 on Dec. 31 and 00.30 on Jan. 1 will be completely compensated for the fees.
Otoyol Inc. is a consortium made up of Nurol, Özaltın, Makyol, Astaldi, Yüksel and Göçay holdings. The companies have been cushioned by a government-tender operating system that guarantees them an income in foreign currency equal to the equivalent of tolls for 40,000 vehicles crossing the bridge.
The 147.5-lira toll of the bridge increased to 184.5 liras with the latest 25 percent hike.
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