Youth and Sports Minister Azad Rahimov spoke about changes to the transport system of Baku, which were made on the threshold of the Baku 2015 European Games.
“The main aim of the people involved in the preparations for the transport scheme of the city of Baku was to create the most favorable conditions for the athletes, in order to help them to avoid traffic jams, so that they could save their time, as well as having quick access to the sports facilities. The second problem of our transport department was the fact that we should create as little inconvenience for the residents of the city of Baku we can. We had two basic ideas, and the whole system was based on them,” Azad Rahimov stressed.
According to him, the circular roads that exist today in Baku are used in order to implement this system: “We used various junction roads that were allowed to be used... For example, you should notice that there are no yellow lines in the center of the city, on which only the movement of the European Olympic Games transport was allowed. We tried to create the best possible conditions in order for citizens not to suffer from the city hosting such a large-scale event.”
Baku also upgraded its bus fleet in order to solve all the problems of transportation and leave a legacy after the Games. I could be mistaken, as the Ministry of Transport dealt with it, but over 200 modern class buses with air-conditioning, low-slung, manufactured by Iveco (France) were purchased. Neoplan buses were purchased for transporting the athletes.
“The Ministry of Transport of Azerbaijan planned to purchase 400 of new so-called London cabs. Today they provide transportation between the complexes, villages and sports facilities. We also used Lifan cars. They are our sponsors, the local car manufacturer, which works for our guests and the Olympic family,” the Minister said.
Speaking about innovations, Rahimov noted that a new abbreviation has been used: TX. “As you know, there were three abbreviation during the Olympics Games: T1, T2, T3, depending on the different levels and the corresponding demand. We have combined the whole system in the TX. It created a very comfortable system, where we did not need to purchase cars, or rent more cars. This would relieve the city, without providing extra transport to groups of users of motor vehicles,” Minister Rahimov said.
Baku uses all possible forms of urban transport. “An electric train line also has begun to work. New electric trains run from the Koroglu metro station. All the necessary negotiations and consultations with the representatives of metro were held in order to cope with the influx of citizens.
We are even planning to use maritime traffic. Baku Bay allows one point of Baku to be reached from another point, where the sports facilities are located. The capacity of the largest ferry is 600 people.
The construction of the airport has been completed. The airport is also ready to receive guests. The system and infrastructure of the airport allows it to receive a large number of passengers, despite the fact that the new terminal contains 12 sleeves, but nevertheless, people do not crowd here and we have no problems with getting through, or any delays,” Azad Rahimov stated.
