(The Turkish Post) – Türkiye plans to spend more than $20 billion on transportation and logistics in 2027, an increase of about 35% on this year, with railways taking the largest share, according to the government’s budget proposal.
The figures come from the 2027 central government budget proposal. Total transportation and logistics spending, which stood at nearly 778.5 billion liras this year, is set to pass 1 trillion liras, or about $20.2 billion, a rise of 35.54%.
Over $20 billion for transportation in 2027
The spending covers road, rail, air and maritime transport as well as communications. Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu said investment across all of these areas would continue without interruption, supported by the money set aside in the budget.
The plan reflects a long-running drive to expand Türkiye’s transport network, from high-speed rail lines to motorways, airports and ports. Officials say the investment is meant to cut travel times, lower logistics costs and support exports.
The transportation figures are part of a wider 2027 central government budget that envisages total spending of about 27.3 trillion liras.
Rail network gets the biggest share
Railways are the single largest item in the transportation plan, at about 514.9 billion liras. The government has made expanding the rail network a priority, with new high-speed lines and freight corridors under construction.
Türkiye has been extending its rail network toward 14,000 kilometers and beyond, and officials have said they want the country to serve as a logistics bridge between Asia and Europe. The rail network spending is intended to add new lines and modernize existing track and signaling.
Road transport is the next largest area. Its budget, set at about 365.15 billion liras this year, is due to rise by around 32.1% to about 482.45 billion liras in 2027.
Roads, airports and ports
Beyond rail and road, the plan includes money for airports, seaports and communications infrastructure. Türkiye has built or expanded dozens of airports over the past decade and has sought to grow its role as an air transport hub, as carriers such as Turkish Airlines expand their fleet.
Maritime projects and digital communications networks also draw on the transportation budget. The government has framed the spending as part of its push to raise Türkiye’s competitiveness in regional trade.
What the Türkiye budget still needs
The numbers remain a proposal. Final allocations will be set after the central government budget bill is submitted to the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (TBMM) and the parliamentary budget process is completed.
Separately, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure has been assigned an appropriation ceiling of about 290.9 billion liras, a figure that covers the ministry’s own budget rather than all transport-related spending. The breakdowns released so far come from different documents and are not directly comparable.
The transportation plan sits alongside other priorities in the 2027 budget proposal, which raised funding for social housing and other programs.
A logistics hub ambition
Türkiye’s location between Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia has long been central to its economic planning. Officials argue that better roads, railways and ports will draw more transit trade and investment.
Türkiye opened Istanbul Airport in 2018 and has expanded regional airports since, while new motorways and bridges have been built under public-private partnerships. Officials say the 2027 plan will fund both new projects and the upkeep of existing roads and rail lines.
The government says the transportation spending will press ahead despite inflation and pressure on the lira. Lawmakers are due to debate the full budget in the weeks ahead before a final vote, which usually comes before the end of the year.
