土耳其普鲁斯海底铁路隧道将开通

 

Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has for years championed the undersea engineering project, conceived by an Ottoman sultan in 1860.

 

Work began in 2004 but archaeological excavations² delayed the construction.

 

Japan gave $1bn towards the $4bn total cost of the 0.8 mile (1.4 km) tunnel, designed to withstand（抵挡） earthquakes.

 

It is scheduled to be inaugurated at 13:00 GMT.

 

 

The BBC's James Reynolds in Istanbul says that now the tunnel is finished, the Turkish government hopes the new route under the Bosphorus will eventually develop into an important trading route, extending from China all the way to western Europe.

 

Critics of Mr Erdogan have seen the tunnel as one of his grandiose³ construction projects for the city where he used to be mayor. 

 

Detractors of his proposals, including a third airport, a parallel canal and a third bridge, say they illustrate⁴ Mr Erdogan's "pharaonic" ambitions.

 

Authorities came under fire earlier this year when protesters opposed plans to redevelop a park in Istanbul. Widespread violence between anti-government demonstrators and security forces ensued.

 

The rail tunnel will not be fully⁵ operational after its official opening on Tuesday, the news agency AFP reports.

 

"The part that is in service is very limited. All that has been delayed until much later," said Tayfun Kahraman, president of the Istanbul Chamber⁶ of Urban Planners.

 

"We are wondering why this inauguration⁷ is happening so soon."

 

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will be present at the official opening in recognition of the Bank of Japan's status as the project's principal financial backer.

 

City officials say the tunnel will relieve pressure on the two existing bridges, as well as ease traffic congestion⁸（交通拥堵） and pollution.

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