The news that Alanya will be designated as an independent province in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Turkish Republic is one of the most discussed topics. Whether this will happen by September–October 2023, just in time for the mentioned anniversary, is still unclear. However, it is evident that the once small resort town has significantly increased its population and continues to grow, improve, and prosper.
Turk Estate has gathered the latest news for its readers on what has changed in Alanya recently.
Alanya Mayor Adem Murat Yücel is continuing the implementation of several projects, including those that can rightly be called mega projects, which he promised before the local elections in 2019. Construction work is progressing rapidly throughout the city, with some sites working around the clock. At the same time, significant investments are being made in various facilities.
Content:
- Roads
- Waterfront. Bicycle lanes
- Beaches
- Preschool facilities
- Culture
- Municipality
- Gastronomic center
- Sports center
- Transition to renewable energy
- Healthcare
- Education
Roads
Asphalt paving is being carried out continuously throughout the city, with special attention being paid to Mahmutlar – the city center – and the roads leading to the mountains and Obalar. In the Mahmutlar area, for example, hot asphalt work has begun on the old Konya-Tashkent Road. It is particularly critical because this area includes a school street used by students.
Asphalt paving has been completed on Azaklar and Müderrisler Streets in Obalar, while work continues on other streets.
Alanya Municipality teams are continuously working on the development of roads in Okurcalar and Sapadere regions.
Speaking of Sapadere, the asphalt paving of an 8-kilometer section in the Sapadere area/Yunus Emre Street is underway. Hamit Bağ, the head of the Sapadere district, said that this road is crucial for the accessibility not only of Sapadere but also of the surrounding mountain roads. Therefore, it is not only a solution to transportation problems, but also a noticeable improvement in the social and economic status of the entire district.
Another important area that required increased attention to road surfaces is the so-called New University Road (Çökele Yolu) in Kestel. The construction was initiated by Alanya Municipality in order to facilitate the movement from the coastal areas and Isa Küçülmez to Aladdin Keykubat University and the New Ring Road.
After completing the embankment and earthworks on the new 30-meter-wide and 4-kilometer-long road, a new storm water drainage system has been installed. By the way, this road can be considered one of the "zone-improving" projects for Alanya, as it will increase the traffic convenience of the region, facilitating the access not only to the university and the new ring road but also to the industrial areas and even the Dim Cave. The road will be open to vehicles in the near future.
Waterfront. Bicycle lanes
The reconstruction of the waterfront that runs through the Türkler-Payallar-Konaklı districts has been successfully completed. In addition to the impressive promenade, equipped recreational areas and a parallel bicycle lane have been created.
However, there is still some work to be done to connect the fragmented Alanya waterfront, which is interrupted near the tunnels in the Dinek area, with the beginning of the new waterfront starting from Konaklı. This is because the road between them, although existing, is narrow and highly uncomfortable for both pedestrians and cyclists.
In addition to the existing several-kilometer-long routes along the sea, bicycle paths for cyclists will soon be built in Alanya and its surroundings, connecting Alanya with Gazipaşa. As part of this project, an approximately 6 km long section of the coast will be beautified.
Beaches
This season, the municipality has taken steps to improve the quality of the public Galip Beach (or Galipdere Beach), as it attracts many visitors, including foreigners (thanks to its central location). Sunbeds and umbrellas are provided free of charge at this beach. According to the Municipality, the changing cabins are cleaned daily by the staff of the Municipality's Environmental Protection and Control Department and are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
For safety reasons, the 200-meter-long beach is supervised by lifeguards, and the sand is regularly cleaned at different intervals. Dedicated teams work in shifts throughout the day to ensure cleanliness.
Preschool facilities
The Municipality pays a lot of attention to the needs of the younger generation and continues to build children's playgrounds in every district. Children's parks have been built in Dere, Türktaş, and Bychakchi districts.
After the completion of the kindergarten project in the Obak district, which is already in operation, a new kindergarten project has been started in the Mahmutlar district. The construction of Hanife Cebeci Municipal Kindergarten and Children's Academy in Alanya is underway with the completion of the concrete work and about 80% of the project has been completed. It has been announced that the kindergarten, designed for 220 children and built on an area of 2,800 m², will be operational within a year.
Culture
The construction of a Cultural Center in Mahmutlar is actively underway and the foundation stone was laid a year ago. Currently, 60% of the construction has been completed. This cultural center is part of the aforementioned mega projects in terms of its future scale and multifunctionality. It will occupy an area of 11 hectares and will include a multipurpose hall for 1,200 people, a conference and theater hall for 550 people, a wedding hall for 100 people, a foyer of 370 square meters, a library of 165 square meters, 24 classrooms, a gymnasium, a covered parking lot for 120 cars, offices for teachers and administrators, storerooms, a prayer room, toilets, a dressing room, a projection room, technical rooms, a 1000 square meter open area with a roof for weddings and events, a square, a park and open parking lots.
Municipality
Work continues on the construction of a new municipal services building, another of the Mayor's mega projects. With the completion and operation of the administrative building, which is scheduled to be delivered by the end of the year, the "Square Project" will be realized, which, as the authorities hope, will improve the appearance of the city. It will not only be a "building to serve the people" but also a design object that can become a highlight of Alanya's architecture.
Gastronomic center
An unexpected but almost realized social project – another initiative of the municipality – is the "Gastronomic Center." Its purpose is, quote, unquote, "to preserve, support and develop the gastronomic culture of Alanya." It will be located in the Obak district and will be a fully equipped facility capable of serving 5,000 people simultaneously, with hot and cold kitchens, multifunctional cellars, and even a pastry shop. On the ground floor, there will be a cafe selling local products. According to officials, the project will be completed and operational by the end of the current season.
The multifunctional project (with covered parking, market, cinema, and digital library under one roof) in Alanya is also "reaching the finish line." The market and the parking lot have been completed and are ready to be put into operation; or rather, the "market section" is already practically open – even the lottery for the traders' places has already taken place. This complex is 60% ready. By the way, they are working around the clock to finish the construction in the shortest possible time.
Sports center
Another new social facility that will delight the residents of Obak and its surroundings is an indoor sports hall combined with a semi-Olympic swimming pool. The facility will provide opportunities for practicing 18 different sports.
Transition to renewable energy
Alanya is gradually transitioning to more and more self-sufficient solar energy. It is worth mentioning that the Solar Power Plants (GES) of Alanya Municipality for the efficient use of renewable energy sources as part of the efforts to combat climate change were put into operation in 2017 and their capacity is gradually increasing. With the help of consulting services from BBA Solar Energy Systems, design studies were prepared for the installation of a solar power plant at the site of the implementation of a new own consumption project. As a result, an agreement was signed with the Alanya Municipality for the connection of the Öztüketim-1 solar power plant with an installed capacity of 2,500 kW. This will significantly increase the power capacity. "We are an environmentally friendly and innovative municipality," emphasizes Adem Murat Yücel. By the way, local "solar energy" initiatives are implemented in parallel with global ones (affecting the whole of Alanya): for example, the local university has switched to self-sufficiency in electricity and distributes excess energy to neighboring districts.
Healthcare
One of the most important social institutions is health care. There has been a lot of news in the last year, and one of the latest is the opening of the Egrigöl Health Center. "This is the seventh medical center we have built," said the mayor. "In a very short time, we will lay the foundation for our eighth center."
Thanks to the Egrigöl Health Center's convenient location, residents of several neighborhoods can now take advantage of its services, including Bayyr, Okurjalar, Chakallar, Saburlar, Güzelbahçe, Akdam, Avsallar, Soğukpınar, Güney, Orhan, Karamanlar, Gezubüyük, Emişbeleni, Türkler, İncekum, Payallar, Tosmur, Toslak, and Elikesik.
By the way, the center was built in a very short time, only two months. The eighth center, which will be built in the Payallar district of Alanya, will combine three services: a medical center, the 112-emergency hotline and a fire station.
Adem Murat Yudzhel commented on the situation of health care facilities in Alanya, saying, "One of the medical centers built in the east, in Çayarası, has been serving the population for three years.” The population here is between 12,000 and 15,000 people, and the daily number of patients varies between 40 and 80. However, the population is increasing, so there is a need to expand the capacity for receiving patients.
Education
The people of Alanya are very enthusiastic about the new women’s university dormitory. It was built to solve the housing problem for female students from remote areas.
The dormitory accommodates 120 people and provides for all the needs of its residents, from a roof over their heads to food, medical services and even sports and recreational activities. It has classrooms, 24-hour access to hot water (remember, this is not a given in Turkey), heating, meals, a computer lab, and gymnasiums. Security guards maintain order and safety. The dormitory even has rooms specially equipped for disabled students.