Experiment with Control of Public Transport in Sumgait

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed on December 7 the decree "On improvement of management in the field of passenger transport by road in the city of Sumgait." Management in this area, which was arranged by the local government service for road transport (GSAT) at the Ministry of Transport, has been transmitted to the City Executive Power.

The decree noted that the measure is carried out within a "pilot project".

At the head of Sumgayit EP the Office of Passenger Transportation in Road Transport (UPPAT) has been established. This institution, among others, has been delegated powers for the formation of the state order for passenger transportation.

 In connection with the creation of a new entity, the Cabinet of Ministers will review the number of GSAT staff and provide a logistical base for UPPAT in Sumgait.

Recall that in 2014 at the Executive Power of Baku, Ltd. Baku Bus was created for passenger traffic. At the disposal of the company there are over 300 new buses purchased in France and Germany.

The economist Natig Jafarli, commenting for Turan the decision on improving the transport system in Sumgait, said that in civilized countries, passenger transport is operated by the city mayors. "About one-fifth of the Greater Istanbul Municipality revenues accounts for revenues from passenger traffic. The state does not interfere in such matters. But once they do an experiment, they could transfer the administration of public transport to the Sumgayit municipality. But the problem is also that the level of public confidence in municipalities is at zero, and local governments in fact operate under the protection of local EP," the expert said. ----08D