Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan continues to insist on plans to lay a canal on the edge of Istanbul, despite the resistance of hundreds of citizens and the new mayor of the city against this mega-project, Reuters reported.

Last year, Turkey actually suspended the project, which was valued at 75 billion lire ($ 12.6 billion), as the economy was in a recession.

"The proposed 45-km (28-mile) Kanal Istanbul on the western fringes of Turkey’s largest city would connect the Black Sea to the north and the Marmara Sea to the south," the source noted.

Erdogan says the canal is needed to facilitate traffic on the Bosphorus and protect its historic buildings, calling it environmental salvation.

Hundreds of Istanbul residents have signed petitions over the past two days, speaking out against a large-scale canal project that they say will harm the environment in the city.