Istanbul could require an estimated $30 billion USD in investment to expand its metro network by another 600 kilometres, according to figures outlined by Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu. The proposed expansion would bring the city's urban rail network to 1,000 kilometres, helping address mounting transport demand across Turkey's largest city.
Istanbul Needs Another 600 Kilometres of Metro Lines
Istanbul's existing urban rail network extends 402.6 kilometres, including 245.8 kilometres operated by Metro Istanbul, a subsidiary of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB). Uraloğlu said the city needs another 600 kilometres of metro infrastructure to meet its longer-term transport requirements.
Based on previous municipal estimates of $50 million USD per kilometre, constructing the additional network could cost around $30 billion USD. The figure is an indicative calculation rather than an approved project budget, with actual costs depending on construction methods, station requirements, and individual routes.
The scale of the challenge reflects Istanbul's continuing congestion problems. With 15.8 million residents, the city ranked as the world's third-most congested in 2025, recording average congestion of 62% and an estimated 112 hours lost per driver during rush-hour traffic.
Metro Istanbul has outlined a target of expanding the broader urban rail network to 717.1 kilometres by 2050. Approximately 65.4 kilometres are under construction, while another 249.1 kilometres would be required beyond existing projects to reach that target.
New Metro Lines to Improve Connections Across Istanbul
One of the next major additions is the 13-kilometre M12 Ümraniye-Ataşehir-Göztepe metro line on Istanbul's Asian side. The driverless route will include 11 stations, with testing underway and passenger services targeted to begin by December 2026.
Construction is also progressing on the M13 Söğütlüçeşme-Yenidoğan metro project, a planned 24.7-kilometre route connecting Çekmeköy, Sancaktepe, Ümraniye, Ataşehir, and Kadıköy. Work has begun on the initial 6.7-kilometre Yenidoğan-Emek section, which will include five stations.
The 13-kilometre Kaynarca-Pendik-Tuzla metro project will improve connections with existing rail services, including Marmaray and high-speed trains at Pendik. Its first phase is scheduled to open during the first quarter of 2027, providing additional connections to the M4 metro line.
On the European side, planned extensions include the 18.5-kilometre M7 route towards Bahçeşehir and Esenyurt, alongside the 9.7-kilometre M1B Kirazlı-Halkalı extension. The municipality is also developing a 3.2-kilometre tram connection between Eyüpsultan and Bayrampaşa.
The Transport and Infrastructure Ministry is advancing the Altunizade-Çamlıca Mosque-Bosna Boulevard metro, with a further extension planned towards Ümraniye Sports Village. The ministry has also assumed responsibility for the proposed 17.5-kilometre Ümraniye-Kavacık-Beykoz line, designed to connect Beykoz with the wider metro network.
HIZRAY Could Connect Both Sides of Istanbul in 53 Minutes
Among Istanbul's most ambitious proposals is HIZRAY, a 74.5-kilometre express rail project intended to connect Beylikdüzü on the European side with Sabiha Gökçen Airport on the Asian side through 13 stations.
The proposed service would reduce travel across the city to approximately 53 minutes and could accommodate up to 1.5 million passengers daily. Earlier estimates placed construction costs at $6 billion USD, excluding financing, although the project remains in the planning stages.
New Bosphorus Railway to Strengthen International Trade
The Transport Ministry is also progressing INRAIL, a proposed 127-kilometre railway connecting Istanbul's European and Asian sides through the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge. Unlike the city's metro expansion, the project is designed to accommodate both freight and passenger services.
Estimated to cost $8.3 billion USD, INRAIL is expected to receive $6.75 billion USD in financing from six multilateral development banks. The railway would connect Istanbul's two airports with the national rail network while providing an additional crossing of the Bosphorus.
According to World Bank projections, the new crossing could eventually increase annual rail freight capacity across the Bosphorus from 3 million to 50 million tonnes. Turkey's Transport Ministry separately forecasts the route carrying 30 million tonnes of freight and 33 million passengers annually.
Nezir Can 
Operations Manager
Nezir 'Nez' Can is Operations Manager at Property Turkey and a contributor on Turkish culture, lifestyle, and everyday life across the country. Since joining the company, he has helped international readers better understand what it is like to live, work, and settle in Turkey.
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