Restoration of passenger transportation activities in the liberated territories

Restoration of passenger transportation activities in liberated territories

Under the leadership of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, President Ilham Aliyev, the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan was restored and the foundation of the Great Return to our historical lands was laid. Today, carrying out restoration and reconstruction work in the territories liberated from occupation, building of necessary infrastructure, creation of conditions for residence and business activities of citizens wishing to return to their native lands are among the priorities of state policy.

In accordance with the strategic directions and tasks set by the Head of State for construction, the activity of the Coordination Headquarters established by President Ilham Aliyev’s Order No.2303 dated 24 November 2020 for centralised resolution of issues in the liberated territories continues. One of the main points of the purposeful activity carried out in the direction of restoration and reconstruction of the territories liberated from occupation is to ensure the early resettlement of Azerbaijani citizens in their native lands in complete safety. As part of the work carried out in this direction, the Azerbaijan Land Transport Agency under the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport has opened bus routes to the territories liberated from occupation in order to organize regular visits by citizens to these territories.

The first regular bus routes to the cities of Shusha and Aghdam launched on 24 January 2022. The first regular bus service to Fuzuli was launched on 25 June.

In order to ensure the systematization of passenger transportation and the formation of a database, ticket sales for the routes are carried out online via the portal www.yolumuzqarabaga.az. The online ticketing portal has been integrated into the relevant information systems to ensure security and synchronize access to the liberated territories with the ticketing process and to identify the persons to whom the discount will be applied.

To buy a ticket, citizens must enter their ID document details into the system. Each ticket can be used only by a citizen identified by an ID card. Once a ticket has been bought, it cannot be transferred to another person.

Passengers must book round-trip tickets in advance at the same time.

Passengers visit historical, cultural and religious monuments in the cities of Shusha and Aghdam.

Expansion of passenger traffic to liberated territories and opening of new bus routes of different directions is regulated taking into account settlements, demand, travel safety, as well as existing infrastructure.

At present, bus routes operate in the directions Baku–Shusha, Baku–Aghdam, Barda– Aghdam, Ahmedbeyli (Fuzuli)–Shusha, Terter city–Talish village, Horadiz (Fuzuli)–Aghali (Zengilan), Horadiz–Lachin, Horadiz–Ahmedbeyli–Hadrut.

Work is underway to organize passenger transportation by public transport in the city of Lachin. Route lines in three directions have already been put out to tender.

The opening of regular bus routes is also being analysed in other liberated territories.

At the same time, in continuation of the Great Return policy, visits by Azerbaijani citizens and foreign tourists to territories liberated from occupation are being facilitated. Starting from 27 December 2023, citizens can visit Shusha city and Sugovushan settlement by private car.

Travel authorisation is obtained in advance through the  Yolumuz Qarabağa portal (www.yolumuzgarabaga.az).