Baku: A meeting focusing on transportation issues was recently held in Baku, where President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan addressed the gathering, sharing insights on the country’s transport infrastructure and plans for future development.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, President Aliyev emphasized the need for a comprehensive program to address the growing transportation challenges in Baku and its suburban areas. He highlighted the significant increase in population over the past 30 years, resulting in increased traffic congestion. Despite substantial efforts in developing infrastructure, including new metro stations and road projects, traffic jams remain a pressing issue.
President Aliyev outlined the government’s achievements in transportation, noting that the country has built and repaired over 21,000 kilometers of highways, 335 bridges, and numerous tunnels and passages in the past 20 years. He also highlighted Azerbaijan’s strategic geographical location as a transport hub with major international corridors passing through the country, such as the East-West and North-South routes.
The President mentioned the construction of new projects like the Zangezur corridor, which aims to establish efficient transportation links between Azerbaijan and its autonomous republic, Nakhchivan. However, he criticized Armenia’s non-compliance with agreements to facilitate this connection. As a result, Azerbaijan is working on alternative routes, including a road bridge via Iran, to ensure connectivity with Nakhchivan.
President Aliyev further detailed the progress in aviation and railway sectors, including the building of international airports and modernizing railway infrastructure. He emphasized the importance of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, initiated despite international resistance, as a key project enhancing regional connectivity.
Minister of Digital Development and Transport, Rashad Nabiyev, and Chairman of the Azerbaijan Land Transport Agency, Anar Rzayev, also addressed the meeting. They discussed the initiatives to improve urban mobility in Baku, focusing on public transportation, pedestrian-friendly projects, and digitalization efforts. They highlighted the construction of bus lanes, expansion of metro lines, and development of micro-mobility infrastructure to enhance transportation efficiency.
The meeting concluded with a commitment to continue implementing transport projects nationwide, ensuring that Azerbaijan remains a vital transport center in Eurasia. The government’s focus on adopting a new state program aims to address current challenges and support the country’s economic and demographic growth.