Working Group on Transport, Communications and High Technologies holds its regular meeting in Aghdam
The Working Group on Transport, Communications and High Technologies under the Interagency Center of the Coordination Headquarters, established to solve issues in a centralized manner in the territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan liberated from occupation, held its next meeting in Aghdam.
At the meeting, the work done on the implementation of the tasks set in the “First State Programme on the Great Return to the Liberated Territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan” on transport and communication infrastructure, information was heard from relevant entities on current projects and future plans, as well as the current status of project implementation, upcoming challenges and ways to address them were discussed in detail.
Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Digital Development and Transport, head of the working group Rahman Hummatov said that in accordance with the State Programme, as well as the “Schedule of commissioning of settlements and resettlement of population in the liberated territories in 2025”, the implementation of such strategic projects as the restoration and construction of roads and railways in the liberated territories, construction and operation of new airports, organization of transport services for the population, including regular passenger transportation in cities and regions, as well as the creation of relevant infrastructure, telecommunications and postal networks continue to be implemented.
R. Hummatov noted that the construction of the third international airport in the region in Lachin region has been completed and the official opening ceremony was held, as well as work on 7 motorways with a length of 224.1 km have been completed, in addition, the construction of motorways on 40 projects with a total length of 2644 km is on schedule. He also noted that construction of Barda–Aghdam railway line has been completed within the framework of restoration of railway infrastructure, and 66 per cent of construction and installation work has been completed on Horadiz–Aghbend railway line.
It was noted that regular routes were currently operating in 11 different directions, in accordance with the return of the population to the liberated territories, the progress of recovery and reconstruction work, as well as demand and the availability of road infrastructure. In addition, some 85,000 passengers have been transported to the liberated territories so far. By the reporting period, a total of 1,463,000 requests for travel by private car had been approved through the “Our Way to Karabakh” portal (www.yolumuzqarabaga.az). In addition to the existing routes to the cities of Shusha and Lachin, as well as Sugovushan settlement, starting from 20 May of the current year, conditions have been created for citizens to travel by private vehicles to Aghdam, Aghdere, Jabrayil, Fuzuli, Khankendi, Khojaly, Khojavand and Zangilan regions using the above-mentioned portal.
In addition to the above, necessary measures are being taken to create communication infrastructure, organize telephone and internet connections, and expand postal services to facilitate the daily life of people living in these areas. Thus, telecommunication services are currently organized in 17 settlements and 4535 subscribers are provided with the opportunity to use modern technologies. Services have been organized by opening post offices in the cities of Shusha, Khankendi, Fuzuli and Lachin, as well as in the village of Aghaly in Zangilan region and the settlement of Hadrut in Khojavand region. In addition, mobile postal services are provided along approved routes to military units operating in other liberated territories, as well as to the population, state institutions, enterprises and organizations.
The deputy minister then presented information on the work done and planned for the development of radio and television broadcasting, mobile communications and fixed telecommunication networks in the liberated territories. He noted that currently 9 television and 17 radio programmes are broadcast in the region through the restored radio and television broadcasting stations. A total of 340 base stations have been installed to provide mobile communication services. Telephone and high-speed internet services are provided in Shusha, Lachin, Fuzuli, Zangilan, Aghdam, Khankendi, Khojaly, Kelbajar and other regions.
Reports were made on transport and communication infrastructure projects being implemented in the liberated territories in accordance with the “First State Programme for Great Return”, resettlement schedule, as well as the issues of coordination of project documentation with relevant agencies, allocation of land plots for construction, demining of the necessary territories, permanent control over the observance of security measures in case of mines, significance of the implemented projects, coordination of their implementation through Interagency Center and other important issues were discussed at the meeting.
At the meeting, the relevant decisions were made regarding the timely implementation of measures envisaged by the State Programme in this area, the need to take joint measures with relevant agencies, as well as the need to apply modern technologies in construction, installation and restoration work at the sites and other issues.
During the visit the progress of work on construction of internal road transport and communication network in Aghdam city, Barda–Aghdam railway, Barda–Aghdam–Askeran road, Askeran–Khojaly–Khankendi highway, construction project of Aghdam–Khankendi backbone fibre-optic communication line, as well as telecommunication and transport services organized in Sarijali village of Aghdam region were inspected.