Urban Transport in the OIC Megacities
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administered like companies, nonetheless they remain within the ownership of the metropolitan
municipality.
The coordination and integration of other and private operators (taxis, dolmus, minibuses, or ferry
companies) into the overall system is administered by the municipality as well. The dynamic
development of the city requires the formation of a single authority which will manage planning,
financing and compensating the private sector under a single interface. More benefits of competition
and better performance are expected when suitable contracts are awarded to independent operating
companies. A private company may be more flexible to changed demands or new technologies.
5.3.3. Urban freight and logistics
Istanbul is the node of Turkey’s international transportation corridors, processing 60% of the
country’s total trade volume and has been strengthened by recent major transnational transport
infrastructure projects, expansion of the multimodal transport and improved port management
systems. The city, as well as maintaining and overland routes to other countries, is a key part of a
major industrial area which is located close to the vital Black Sea- Mediterranean Sea route
(Oguztimur and Canci, 2011).
Both in Turkey and Istanbul logistics activities are mostly consist of transportation and custom
operations. In Istanbul logistics functions have traditionally been unplanned and unbalanced. Besides
the development problems, the existing ports (Ambarlı and Haydarpaşa) have inadequate capacity
and do not have rail links, while highway links can also be problematic. In addition, in the absence of
a logistics centres, depots are scattered in and around the city, exacerbating the congestion and
reducing the efficiency of urban freight operations. The lack of coordinated and integrated transport
planning and investment for logistics and freight also contributes to the lack of efficiency in
operations. In the case of air transport, the lack of a master plan for air transport, and lack of research
and development, is compounded by various inadequacies and management problems in cargo
terminals which are already very limited in number. Also, regarding railway transportation, logistics
firms suffer from an accumulated lack of investment, limited rolling stock, management problems, and
an outmoded and inadequate network (Oguztimur and Canci, 2011).
In 2006 the Greater Istanbul Municipality Planning Department, prepared an Environmental Plan. In
the plan report the objective of competitiveness and promoting Istanbul as a ‘‘global city”, and the
objective of environmental sustainability were both emphasized. The report asserted that the
advantage of geographical proximity of Istanbul to Europe should be fully utilized to promote the city
as a logistics centre for companies operating in the Mediterranean, Black Sea and Middle East markets.
Because the quality of products and their fast and cheap delivery has become a priority, Turkey should
be able to compete with China or other countries (Oguztimur and Canci, 2011).
In order to provide access for inflows and outflows of industrial products, the Greater Istanbul
Municipality also proposed new logistics centres, port developments, transportation infrastructure
embellishments, and improvements in existing ports and airports. In the plan, various measures have
been proposed in order to relieve the city from unwanted traffic, and to increase the efficacy of
logistics activities. These measures include the removal of customs facilities from residential areas,
launching new roll-on, roll-off (Ro Ro) lines in theMarmara Sea, banning further housing development
around existing ports and airports, and providing facilities for combined transportation (Oguztimur
and Canci, 2011).
5.4. Dhaka
5.4.1. Introduction
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and one of the fastest growing megacities in the world. Dhaka’s
population saw an exponential increase since the 1950s which was triggered by its role as the capital
of East Pakistan (1949-1971) and later as the capital of Bangladesh (after the 1971 Independence).