INTERVIEWS
Baku metro is rapidly developing and most popular public transport system
Q: November 8 marks the professional holiday of metro workers. How will the staff of Baku Metro celebrate their holiday this year?
A: This year metro workers will mark their 9th professional holiday. In 2006, President Ilham Aliyev signed an executive order to design November 8 as our professional holiday. This order was the best gift to workers of the Baku Metro. On February 27, 2014 the President signed an executive order to create Baku Metro Closed Joint Stock Company through the reorganization of Baku Metro and Azertunelmetrotikinti. We are carrying out various social events, sports tournaments, spartakiadas. We plan to award our veteran and best workers on the eve of the holiday. At the same time we will hold a conference involving foreign guests.
Q: Special attention is paid to transport sector in Azerbaijan. How would you assess the place and role of metro in the country`s transport sector?
A: Baku Metro has experienced development as part of transport sector in Azerbaijan. Metro accounts for close to 30 percent of the total passenger transportation in the country. This means 550,000 people per day. The maximum figure per day is 700,000 people. Metro is one of the most crowded transport means, and the number of passengers is increasingly yearly. The construction of new lines and stations paves the way for the development of the sector.
Q: Large amount of funds is yearly allocated for the development of the transport sector. What measures are being taken to improve metro infrastructure?
A: Baku's Metro will change its appearance in the coming years and will make new stations based on the most modern technologies. The new stations would be equipped with modern platforms, lobbies, escalators as well as new signaling and control systems.In this regard, a memorandum of understanding has already been signed with French companies, Alstom Transport SA, Bouygues Travaux Publics and THALES SA.
Alstom Transport SA will provide Baku Metro with modern cars. Bouygues Travaux Publics will carry out the reconstruction project of the station 28 May, as well as other stations. THALES SA will install the latest signaling and control systems on the Purple line.Baku Metro also plans to invite French specialists to share their experiences with their Azerbaijani counterparts.
Earlier, Baku Metro revealed plans to completely renovate its car fleet by replacing the current one. The lifetime of the cars has already expired. After the renovation of cars, the old rails would also be modernized. New stations will also have some elevators designed for disabled people.
The subway system is developing rapidly in the Azerbaijani capital. Baku Metro with a length of thirty-five kilometers has two lines and 23 stations. It is planned to get enlarged to 119km with five lines and up to 76 stations by 2030. Currently, eight stations and two train depots are under construction.
Some subways are also planned to be opened in the most populated and developed cities of the country.