28 August 2009 / TODAY'S ZAMAN WITH WIRES, İSTANBUL
The Housing Development Administration of Turkey (TOKİ) has announced that it plans to finish the construction of a sports complex for Turkish first division soccer team Galatasaray in the Seyrantepe neighborhood of İstanbul itself, after assessing bids from a tender that was held on Aug. 21.
Speaking to reporters in İstanbul Thursday, TOKİ Vice President Ahmet Haluk Karabel said the administration has enough will and power to finish the project. "We expect to finish the complex within the next year."
After annulling its contract with Eren Talu-Alke in early July because the contractor had not fulfilled all its obligations within the allotted period, TOKİ opened a new tender for the completion of construction of the complex, dubbed “Seyrantepe” or “Türk Telekom Arena.” Only one company submitted a bid, and TOKİ cancelled the tender, saying the bid was “too low.” Another tender was held on Aug. 21. TOKİ said Thursday that they have now cancelled the tender process entirely and will undertake the construction themselves.
