Rustam Minnikhanov gets acquainted with urban regeneration projects in Ankara

On April 30, during his working visit to Ankara, Acting Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov got acquainted with Ankara’s experience in urban regeneration.

Before starting to make a detour around the parks, Minnikhanov and members of Tatarstan delegation had visited the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in Ankara. During his visit to the monument Minnikhanov laid a wreath at the tomb of the Turkish national hero.

After that, Rustam Minnikhanov went to see the Dikmen Valley, which used to be a 5km long ravine covered with dilapidated houses in the early 90-s of the 20th century. Twenty years ago, the city authorities launched the project to regenerate this part of Ankara. The project envisages the demolition of dilapidated housing and further resettlement of people in new houses. A modern park with an artificial pond for the rest of citizens was created in place of the ravine. Minnikhanov got acquainted with Ankara’s experience in interaction with the business sector in issues related to improvement of green areas.

Then, Tatarstan delegation headed for the Ulus Historic City Center, where Mayor of Ankara Melih Gökçek joined Minnikhanov. The large-scale reconstruction is underway in the old part of the city. A programme of demolition of dilapidated and illegally-built housing is being implemented there as well. Historical buildings are being restored to return their original appearance. New buildings are erected in the old Ankara style. Rustam Minnikhanov was told about how work to attract private investment to revive this part of town was done.

Also, Rustam Minnikhanov visited the Anka amusement park, where he together with Melih Gökçek looked around the construction site and planted a tree in the green grove.