The final preparations for the opening of the project, which consists of the construction of an undersea rail tunnel under the Bosphorus strait combining above ground railways on both sides, are being undertaken. 

The 13.5 kilometers long Marmaray line which connects to the Istanbul-Ankara high speed train and Istanbul metro line is expected to somewhat decrease Istanbul's traffic jams.

Turkish Minister of Transportation, Maritime Affairs and Communications Binali Yildirim inspected the project's site on Thursday using the Marmaray's stereo at each station.  

"Everything is going well. Hopefully Turkey will embrace its Marmaray dream of the last one and half century on October 29, 2013," Yildirim told AA in an exclusive interview. He added that the longest escalator in Turkey which measures 61 meters will carry the passengers at Sirkeci station.

October 29 will mark the 90th year of the Republic of Turkey's foundation.