Azerbaijan to Launch New Transportation Programs to Address Congestion and Enhance Infrastructure

President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan convened a meeting on January 28 to discuss the development of the country's transportation infrastructure, focusing on the challenges facing the capital city Baku and its surrounding areas. Despite significant advancements in infrastructure over the past years, Aliyev acknowledged that traffic congestion remains a growing issue due to the rapid increase in the city’s population.

"The population of Azerbaijan, including Baku, has grown substantially over the last three decades, from 7 million to over 10 million," said Aliyev. "As a result, our road infrastructure, including the metro system, is unable to accommodate this growth fully."

Aliyev highlighted that the government had implemented numerous large-scale projects over the past 15 years, including the construction of new metro stations, road junctions, bridges, tunnels, and highways. He noted that without these improvements, traffic in Baku would have been paralyzed.

However, the president stressed the need for further action to address the city's transportation challenges. "We will soon adopt a new government program to continue improving Baku's transportation infrastructure," he said, adding that work on this program had already been underway for several months.

The president also outlined the progress made across the country, mentioning the completion of rural roads, intercity highways, and main roads. He emphasized that Azerbaijan had made considerable strides in connecting cities with modern roads, ensuring smooth transportation between regions. The construction of new highways along Azerbaijan's borders, as well as the repair and building of rural roads, have helped increase road access, with approximately 85-90% of rural roads now completed.

Azerbaijan’s strategic geographic location, which serves as a transit hub for international transportation corridors, was also discussed. Aliyev noted that Azerbaijan has become an essential transport center for Eurasia, with the East-West and North-South transport corridors passing through the country. He emphasized the importance of continued investment in these corridors to increase their capacity.

Among the key initiatives discussed was the Zangezur Corridor project, a transport route connecting Azerbaijan’s mainland to its autonomous region of Nakhchivan. Aliyev pointed out that while Armenia has shown reluctance to implement this project, Azerbaijan is moving forward with the construction of alternative infrastructure, including a new road bridge bypassing Armenia.

"We are taking practical steps to ensure that the Zangezur Corridor is open. We have already started building bridges to bypass Armenia and connect Nakhchivan to Azerbaijan," he added.

Aliyev also shared updates on Azerbaijan’s transport infrastructure expansion, including the construction and renovation of 21,000 kilometers of roads, 335 bridges, and 45 tunnels in the past two decades. The country has also built and renovated over 1,500 kilometers of railways and expanded the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway line.

The president emphasized Azerbaijan's commitment to expanding its air transport infrastructure, citing the construction of new airports in Ganja, Lankaran, and Fuzuli, with a ninth international airport planned for Lachin later this year. He also pointed out the record number of passengers handled by Heydar Aliyev International Airport, which saw over seven million passengers last year.

"With the growing demand for air travel, we are building a new terminal at Heydar Aliyev International Airport, which will allow us to accommodate future passenger traffic," Aliyev said.

In addition to road and air transport, Aliyev highlighted Azerbaijan’s maritime developments, including the construction of a new seaport designed to handle up to 15 million tons of cargo annually, with plans to expand capacity further to meet increasing demand.

The meeting concluded with Aliyev’s announcement that the government would adopt a new state program focused on transportation. He emphasized the need for collaboration among relevant agencies and urged public input to ensure the success of the program.

"Our goal is to continue improving the transportation infrastructure of Baku and the surrounding regions, and we are committed to making Azerbaijan a leading transportation hub in Eurasia," Aliyev said.

With continued investment in infrastructure and the expansion of key projects, Azerbaijan is poised to further solidify its position as a critical player in regional and international transport networks, the head of state noted.