Press conference held on work done in transport sector in 2024 and projects to be implemented in 2025

A press conference was held on work done in the transport sector in 2024 and projects to be implemented in 2025. At the event, attended by media representatives, experts and industry specialists, Deputy Minister of Digital Development and Transport Rahman Hummatov provided information on the projects implemented last year. He said the reforms and work carried out by the Azerbaijani government over the past 20 years have led to major changes in road infrastructure. A total of 20,767 kilometres of motorways have been built, reconstructed and repaired across the country, 335 bridges and overpasses, 163 underground and overground pedestrian crossings, 45 tunnels have been constructed. Currently, 44 road projects with a total length of 3,371.1 kilometres are being implemented in the territories liberated from occupation. Forty-five tunnels, 447 bridges and 16 viaducts are under construction. As a result of the work done, record figures and achievements in a number of areas have been achieved in 2024.The volume of transit cargo traffic across the country as a whole increased by 10.5% to 14.8 million tonnes, including 7.3 million tonnes of transit by rail. Passenger traffic at Heydar Aliyev International Airport grew by 31%. Passenger traffic by metro last year grew by 5% to 230 million people, and by rail reached 8.5 million people. Passenger transport by BakuBus increased by 20%, or 148 million people. For the 11 months of 2024, the volume of production in the transport sector increased by 13.7% and totalled AZN 13.0 billion.

The year 2024 was also remembered for successes in the field of passenger transport. The deputy minister noted that the purpose of work carried out within the framework of mobility transformation in Baku is to ensure the convenience and safety of citizens. This process involves the formation of an effective public transport system, creation and renewal of infrastructure. Reforms are carried out in a comprehensive manner.

One of the important changes is the creation of special lanes on the streets of the capital. According to the monitoring results, the time of buses travelling along the route has been reduced on some streets to 18-22 minutes, in most cases the interval has been reduced, and the number of passengers has significantly increased. Currently, special lanes with a total length of more than 100 kilometers cover more than 30 streets and avenues of the capital. Buses travelling on these lanes carry about 900,000 passengers daily. The process of organizing the special lanes is ongoing.

Speaking about the creation of new routes, the deputy minister stressed that this process continues on the basis of analyses carried out for the purpose of optimization. It was stressed that a new route No.594 connecting 20 January metro station and Sumgait bus terminal started operating at the end of last year, and the journey time to the destination is 30 minutes on average. Every day, buses No.595 transport more than 10,000 passengers from the metro station Avtovaghzal to Sumgait.

Rahman Hummatov added that taking into account the numerous appeals and requests of residents of Saray settlement, a new regular bus route No.508 to the metro station 20 January has been launched.

As part of the introduction of a new regular route network in the capital, buses numbered 20, 120, 120E, 120E, 121E, 140 and 140E were put on the line. It was noted that work is continuing to expand the route network and ensure accessibility for the large sections of the public.

It was noted that as a result of the increase in the number of people using buses, 28 million more passengers were transported last year compared to 2023.

The press conference also stressed the creation of Transport Exchange Centers (HUB). It was noted that the commissioning of three new HUBs in Baku last year significantly expanded the possibilities of transition between different modes of transport. What is meant here are the intersections in front of Ganjlik and 28 May metro stations, as well as at the southern exit of Koroghlu station. It was emphasized that the main feature that distinguishes the 28 May and Koroghlu HUBs from others is that they are multimodal, i.e. they combine railway, metro and bus stops. At the same time, the transport exchange centers located at the northern exit of the metro station Koroghlu and in the Baku International Bus Terminal Complex operate effectively.

It was noted that the role of Baku Metro in the development of urban mobility has increased significantly recently. It was underlined that President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in his interview to local TV channels on 7 January touched upon important issues related to transport infrastructure of Baku, particularly development of Baku Metro and gave relevant instructions. It was noted that in accordance with the instructions of the Head of State, significant work is being carried out to expand the Baku Metro, which plays an important role in reducing traffic congestion and developing urban mobility in Baku, as well as modernizing the existing infrastructure. The new transport program plans to provide greater coverage of the agglomeration with an environmentally friendly, fast and connected public transport system for the capital. Within this framework, the capital’s transport program is being developed with the participation of local and foreign experts. The program pays special attention to the integration of the metro with other modes of transport, taking into account the current and future needs of the city’s development. One of the main goals is to ensure balanced and efficient traffic in the transport system, especially with the development of Green and Purple lines.

It was informed that in accordance with the instructions given by President, 10 new stations are planned to be constructed in the next few years as part of the development of the Baku Metro. Among these stations, construction of four new stations and Darnagul electric depot on Khatai- Hazi Aslanov-2 section of the Green Line is of special importance. It is also planned to strengthen the important transit role of the metro to better regulate passenger traffic from Sumgait and Khirdalan to the city center through the development of the Purple Line.

It was noted that progress has been made in the modernization of the Baku Metro in recent years. Seven metro stations and one depot have been built.

New Purple line has been put into operation.

Within the framework of COP29, 35 new carriages were purchased and completed, bringing the number of new generation carriages to 150. These innovations will provide more comfortable and safer journeys for passengers.

These state-supported projects also apply models learnt from global experience. The signing of a memorandum with the European Investment Bank is one of the important steps to ensure sustainable investment in the metro expansion and the construction of 10 new stations. The modernization of the Baku Metro is one of the main pillars not only of the city’s transport system, but also of its sustainable and green development policy. It was noted that dynamic progress in this area is expected in the coming years. The public will be regularly informed about all innovations.

It was emphasized at the press conference that Azerbaijan Railways CJSC has made great achievements in the field of passenger transportation in recent years, especially in the last two years. Extension of the Baku–Ganja–Baku route to Aghstafa in 2023, opening of the Baku–Gabala route line for the first time in the history of Azerbaijan railways, provision of Dallar and Govlara stops, procurement of new trains under the contract signed with Swiss company Stadler Rail Group, increase in the number of trips on the Baku–Aghstafa–Baku route from 2 to 4 as a result of commissioning of these trains in June 2024, provision of Leki and Ujar stops, restoration of the Baku–Balakan–Baku route in 2025 is the result of successful activities of ADY aimed at further expansion of passenger traffic.

It was particularly noted that one of the main digital innovations to ensure customer satisfaction was the creation of an opportunity to present an electronic ID card in the form of a QR code through the mygov.az portal when boarding inter-regional passenger trains.

The number of downloads of ADY Mobile app launched in 2023 increased and exceeded 172 thousand. The loyalty program launched in September 2024 provides commuter train passengers with a 3% cashback for trips made via ADY Mobile, as well as bonuses.

It was noted that in order to fully ensure passenger comfort, free Wi-Fi service was activated last September at Baku, Sabunchu, Sumgait, Ganja, Gabala railway stations, Koroghlu, Bakikhanov, Pirshaghi, Goran, Aghstafa stations and stops, as well as on trains running on inter-regional routes.

In total, ADY provided travel services to approximately 8.5 million passengers in 2024. Thus, for the second year in a row, ADY achieved a record number of passengers served. Thus, the organization set a record by serving more than 7 million passengers in 2023.

The deputy minister also spoke about the renewal of the bus fleet. He noted that 160 electric buses imported into our country ahead of COP29 are already being successfully operated on various routes in the capital, while private companies have recently purchased another 85 buses with environmentally friendly technologies. In addition, more than 200 buses have been repaired and put into operation. Their fleet has now reached a record 2,170 units.

The expansion of the network of bicycle paths in Baku and their coordination was also mentioned at the event. In 2024, the length of these roads was 35 kilometers. In the next stages, it is planned to increase the length of these lanes to about 100 kilometers. Special bicycle parking spaces have been created in about 70 areas in the capital, and a rental service with a convenient payment mechanism via a mobile app was launched, which has increased accessibility.

It was noted that the process of creating parking spaces for electric scooters had also begun. The growing popularity of bicycles and scooters is indicative of the trend of micromobility vehicles becoming an alternative mode of transport for short-distance journeys. Between September and December, micromobility operators received 850,944 orders and travelled 2,244,302 kilometers.

Speaking about the radical reforms being implemented in the transport sector, the topic of taxi services was also touched upon. It was reported that in December 2024, the number of taxi orders had decreased by about 31-32 per cent compared to the same period in 2023. It was emphasized that order and law had been established in this area due to strong reforms. About 35,000 taxi drivers were involved in trainings. Thanks to effective regulatory measures, the quality of services has improved significantly, the taxi fleet has been radically renewed, especially with hybrid and electric vehicles. This has a significant impact on improving the environmental situation. Work is also underway to establish taxi stands in some parts of the city.

Significant changes are also taking place in the organization of parking spaces. It was stressed that illegal car parks chaotically organized in different parts of the city are a thing of the past. The process of creating new parking spaces in the zones, including free parking spaces, will continue this year as well.

The creation and expansion of pedestrian zones was also mentioned at the event. In this regard, the project to completely restrict vehicular traffic and create a pedestrian zone around Khagani Park, which was commissioned after extensive renovation last year, was mentioned.

It was emphasized that complete restriction of vehicle traffic on Aziz Aliyev Street, rich in historical monuments, allowed expanding the pedestrian zone from Nizami Street to Seaside National Park. And the improvement of the square in front of 28 May metro station turned it into a large pedestrian zone. These changes, which will significantly improve the quality of the urban environment, will continue in 2025.

While providing information on traffic reorganization, it was informed that last year work on 6 projects was completed on Zarifa Aliyeva, Khagani, 28 May, Mikail Mushfig streets, as well as Matbuat, Khojaly and Azadlig avenues.

Rahman Hummatov said that a lot of work has been done recently to protect the road infrastructure. According to him, the most innovative approach is applied here, and electronic scales are installed. Six electronic scales with innovative mechanisms have already been installed on the Baku–Guba–State Border with the Russian Federation motorway and on the Baku–Alat–Gazakh–State Border with Georgia motorway, and work in this direction continue on other sections. In total, this process involves the installation of 51 scales in 31 locations. The control of permissible dimensions and weight parameters of large and heavy vehicles is carried out through the Unified Monitoring Center for Electronic Scales established by the Azerbaijan Land Transport Agency (AYNA).

The next phase of the mobility transformation program will include optimizing routes, increasing the number of buses and renewing fleets with environmentally friendly buses, completing reforms in the taxi sector, promoting micromobility, traffic management and improving pedestrian infrastructure.

Among the promising issues are the completion of motorway construction projects and interchanges to improve transport links, the expansion of the metro network and an increase in the number of destinations served by suburban electric trains.

At the end of the meeting, the journalists’ questions were answered.