Türkiye Card initiative aims to unify public transport across the country

The Turkish Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure has announced plans to expand the Türkiye Card Project to 18 cities by the end of the year. Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu highlighted that the initiative aims to unify public transport cards across the country.

Uraloglu stated that the Türkiye Card would be introduced in major urban centers, including Istanbul, where it will be applicable on the Marmaray line, Ankara with the Baskentray, and Izmir with Izban. Additional cities set to implement the card include Rize, Kocaeli, Aksaray, Tokat, Karabuk, Usak, Kahramanmaras, Nevsehir, Kilis, Corum, and Gaziantep.

The project, managed by the Ministry in collaboration with PTT (the national post and telegraph directorate) seeks to eliminate the confusion caused by multiple transport cards in each city, enabling a single card to be used from Edirne to Kars. Uraloglu emphasized the significance of partnerships with municipalities to achieve nationwide implementation.

As part of the initial rollout, five pilot cities—Konya, Kayseri, Gumushane, Yozgat, and Istanbul—have already seen some public interest, with 47,265 cards sold and 118,273 trips recorded. Uraloglu expressed confidence that the Türkiye Card will facilitate easier access to public transport services.

Türkiye Card can be purchased from PTT offices, with prices set at 40 Turkish Lira for the standard card and 60 Turkish Lira for debit and prepaid versions. Provisions for special groups, including the elderly, veterans, and families of martyrs, are currently being discussed with the Ministry of Family and Social Services.

The Türkiye Card is designed to streamline payments not only for public transport but also for municipal fees and taxes, further integrating it into everyday financial transactions. As the project progresses, it aims to enhance accessibility for citizens across all 81 provinces.