Will it be possible to ride the Baku metro normally?

Complaints of overcrowding and difficulties boarding the Baku subway have become increasingly common in recent months, with passengers encountering congestion not only during peak hours but also at various times throughout the day. The subway's carriages often experience significant overcrowding, sometimes to the extent that passengers are forced to exit three or four cars before reaching their destination.

In recent years, many residents have turned to taxis as an alternative mode of transportation. However, the recent legislative changes have resulted in increased costs for taxi services, as regulations governing taxi operations have become somewhat more stringent.

Some experts believe that the Baku Metro is ill-prepared to handle such high passenger density, while others argue that long intervals between trains contribute to overcrowding.

Official data reveals that, during the first nine months of 2023, the Baku Metro carried 156,790,534 passengers. This figure represents a 19% decrease compared to the period before the coronavirus pandemic in 2019 and a 22% increase compared to the same period in 2022.

Bakhtiyar Mammadov, the head of the press and Public Relations Department of Baku Metro CJSC, explained to Turan that the rapid growth of the city is a major factor contributing to overcrowding. He stated, "When a city becomes a megalopolis, public transportation issues inevitably come to the forefront. Traffic jams plague the city, and people seek prompt solutions. Among public transportation options, the Metro stands out as the most traffic-free, reliable, and fastest mode of transport with the shortest intervals between trains. Consequently, people flock to the subway, leading to congestion."

Mammadov noted that subway congestion is concentrated in specific directions and at particular times. He cited that 25-30% of metro passengers consist of students and teachers, leading to increased congestion during the educational season when students are commuting to and from classes.

At present, the Baku Metro is operating according to the most optimal traffic schedule within the limits of its existing technical capabilities. Mammadov emphasized that it is currently technically impossible to reduce the interval between trains on the busy "May 28" to "Hazi Aslanov" route to less than two minutes. He also explained that international standards dictate that each line must function independently, whereas in Azerbaijan, the "Green" and "Red" lines intersect and operate as a single line from "28 May" to "Hazi Aslanov."

Transport expert Elmaddin Muradli, in an interview with Radio Azadlig, expressed concern about the limited development of the metro network in Azerbaijan. He argued that, in a city like Baku, there should ideally be 70-80 or more metro stations, far surpassing the current 30. He attributed the high motorization rate in the city to the limited development of the Metro system.

Muradli stressed that the Metro's expansion should be a top priority. He lamented that much of the city's above-ground space has already been developed, leaving underground expansion as the remaining option. He noted that plans had previously been made for the "Yellow" and "Purple" lines, but construction delays and the construction of large buildings along these routes have impeded progress.

In Azerbaijan, the Baku Metro is the sole subway system, inaugurated in 1967, and currently comprises 26 stations. As the city continues to grow, addressing the challenges of overcrowding and expanding the metro network may become increasingly imperative.