As Turkey lays the groundwork for a "strong and stable" governance model with the upcoming referendum regarding the constitutional amendment package on April 16, which would change the parliamentary system to a presidential one, officials are also planning to launch mega-projects around the same time, as President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Prime Minister Binali Yildirim prepare to lay the groundwork for projects covering the January-to-March period and launch projects that have been finalized, including 117 mega-projects worth an estimated TL 85.5 billion ($23.94 billion).Investments worth billions The decision comes after President Erdoğan recently opened the City Hospital in the province of Mersin on Feb. 3 and the Aksaray Natural Gas Underground Storage Facility on Feb. 10. Moreover, while the cost of the finalized projects totals TL 49 billion ($13.69 billion), the cost of projects still requiring groundwork is over TL 36 ($10.06 billion). Furthermore, the cost of projects to be carried out by the Prime Ministry will be TL 502 million ($140.25 million), with the Ministry of Transportation and Maritime Affairs ranking first among the ministries in terms of project value. The Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources will activate completed projects worth TL 19.7 billion ($5.5 billion), while the Ministry of National Defense will launch projects worth TL 10.46 billion ($2.96 billion) and the Ministry of National Education will activate TL 7 billion ($1.96 billion) in projects and the Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs accompolish projects valued at TL 7.2 billion ($2.01 billion). The cost of March projects (those already finalized as well as those in the ground-laying phase) is TL 20.93 billion ($5.85 billion).Projects ready to beginn Ministry of Transportation, Maritime and Communication: Ship Traffic Management System Project and Local Traffic Control Center establishment valued at TL 316 million ($88.29 million), additions to the İzmir-Aydın Highway project worth TL 143 million ($39.95 million), road tunnel openings worth TL 1.7 billion ($.47 billion), roads completed in 12 provinces and districts worth TL 1 billion ($.28 billion), bridge crossings opened in 13 provinces and districts worth TL 295 million ($82.42 million) and the Ankara High Speed Train Warehouse Project worth TL 524 million ($146.4 million), were all projects carried out by the Transportation, Maritime and Communication Ministry.Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources: The opening ceremony for electricity generation investments and provisions of supply security projects worth $4.6 billion will take place, while 34 projects will be opened and work for 12 additional projects will begin.Youth and Sports Ministry: Sport facilities and sports arenas worth TL 1.1 billion ($.31 billion) will be opened in 1,345 provinces, districts and neighborhoods for the country's young people. In addition, student dormitories completed in 48 provinces and 42 districts valued at TL 3.3 billion ($0.92 billion) will come into service.Ministry of the Interior: Under the auspices of the Köydes Project, services worth TL 840 million will be offered to citizens to construct infrastructure projects in villages.Ministry of National Education: The opening ceremonies for 5,515 completed primary, secondary and high schools, valued at TL 3 billion, will take place.Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs: The opening ceremony for 84 dams, ponds, waste, irrigation and drinking water facilities totaling TL 3 billion will take place.Ground-laying projectsMinistry of Education: Foundations for the construction of 7,454 primary, secondary and high schools in 81 provinces, valued at TL 4 billion, will be laid.Ministry of National Defense: A $517 million contract will be signed to establish engine infrastructure for the National Helicopter Project. Moreover, the Frontier Physical Security System Project will be tendered to increase security on the border with Syria at a cost of TL 700 million.Ministry of Labor and Social Security: The Project of Revision of General Health Insurance will be carried out at a cost of TL 6.4 billion.Ministry of Environment and Urbanization: Drinking water and wastewater projects in 34 provinces and villages will be strengthened at a cost of TL 840 million.Ministry of Culture and Tourism: A project worth TL 65.5 million will build new museums in Kütahya and Muğla and build a reception center for the Nemrut Mountain tumulus ruins.Ministry of Transportation, Maritime Affairs and Communication: Foundations for the Rize Artvin Airport (TL 1.3 billion) will be laid. Moreover, airport terminals in six provinces worth TL 357 million will be constructed. Additionally, foundations for crossroads, bridge crossings and viaducts, costing TL 1.3 billion, will be laid in 13 provinces. Moreover, digging will start for a new highway at a cost of TL 3.3 billion.