Citizen's Complaint About Transportation: 'We Boil in the Summer, Freeze in the Winter'

Since July 1, bus and metro fares have increased by 10 qəpik, reaching 50 qəpik. The fare for buses on the Baku-Sumgayit route has risen from 60 qəpik to 70 qəpik. However, it is reported that there has been no improvement in service quality following the price increase. According to complaints, air conditioners are not working on buses operating in the periphery, and overcrowding persists.

Bahar Aliyeva, a resident of Baku, states that the condition of bus number 62, which operates on the "Ahmadli settlement - Sabunchu station" route, is far from satisfactory: "We have been traveling on old buses for years. There is neither an air conditioner nor a heating system. We boil in the summer heat and freeze in the winter. While traveling, it feels like the bus is going to fall apart at any moment. The price increased by 10 qəpik, but we don't know why. The situation remains the same."

On social media, there are also complaints about some trains at metro stations not having functioning air conditioners and experiencing overcrowding.

Bakhtiyar Mammadov, the head of the press service of "Baku Metro" CJSC, told Turan that the number of passengers decreases in summer: "On working days, the metro, which carries 760,000 passengers, transported 530,000 passengers according to yesterday's (July 16) statistics."

However, according to the organization's spokesperson, the most important aspect for the metro in summer is not the reduction: "Changes can occur in the timing of passenger flow and density. This is because the academic season has ended, people tend to go on vacation more in July and August, and changes in their daily plans affect the timing and direction of the flow."

Mammadov noted that "Baku Metro" switches to a summer schedule accordingly: "From 7:00 to 10:00 in the morning and from 17:30 to 21:30 in the evening, a 2-minute and 30-second interval is applied on the '28 May' - Hazi Aslanov route. During this interval, the metro can comfortably use reserve trains to regulate congestion. In winter, this interval is 2 minutes. Nothing changes during the rest of the day."

According to him, it is technically impossible to install air conditioning systems in old generation trains: "Baku Metro has conducted studies on this and received the relevant opinion from the manufacturing facility. This is practically equivalent to the manufacturing process of a new car. To install a cooling system in one car, it must be completely dismantled, and the ventilation and electrical lines must be changed. This means that the structure of the car changes, which is strictly prohibited."

Regarding the air conditioning issue in new generation trains, the spokesperson said that those trains have the most optimal cooling systems: "Sometimes, certain problems can occur with those systems on our lines. Therefore, intensive monitoring is carried out in the metro. If a problem arises, immediate action is taken."

Mammadov emphasized that "Baku Metro" has 61 trains, 23 of which are new generation trains: "In the next 3 years, 65 new cars will be brought. Of these, 35 will be put into operation within the next year. This means that the problem of the lack of air conditioning in old cars will be gradually resolved."

The Azerbaijan Land Transport Agency (AYNA) informed Turan that a mobility transformation program is being implemented to improve citizens' mobility opportunities and ensure the accessibility of public transportation: "A new route and coordinated bus lane network have been prepared to increase the accessibility of public transportation, enhance service levels, and ensure more comfortable and faster passenger transport. The initial implementation of this network has already begun with a new route operating towards the Hövsan, Mardakan, and Shuvelan settlements."

The agency noted that currently, special bus lanes with a length of 66.3 km have been organized on 23 streets and avenues in Baku: "This year, more than 40 kilometers of bus lanes will be organized, covering about 30 more streets and avenues."

AYNA emphasized that work is also being done to renew and expand the bus fleet: "Over the past year, more than 200 buses have been put into operation in Baku alone. Additionally, more than 200 buses will be repaired and returned to service this year, and 160 new electric buses will be purchased and brought to Baku for passenger service."

Transportation expert Arshad Huseynov told Azadliq Radio that although there has been a price increase in the country, there is no change in quality: "Currently, there are about 2,000 buses in Baku. This is insufficient. Moreover, 1,000 of them are 15-20 years old buses. If we are talking about normal public transportation, the number of new buses should be 3,000. Drivers should also work according to a precise schedule."

As for the metro, Huseynov believes that Baku Metro is working with all its potential: "However, there is still information that some cars do not have air conditioning, only ventilation systems, which do not provide cooling in a crowded car in the scorching summer. A significant portion of the car fleet is outdated and needs renewal. At the same time, to eliminate congestion, lines should be separated from each other."

In his opinion, all this requires significant investment: "Raising the fare by 10 qəpik does not have the power to improve quality. Therefore, the financing of this sector should be carried out by the state."