Speech by Ilham Aliyev at the opening of the Intelligent Traffic Management Center in Baku

It is a very significant day in the history of our city. We are commissioning an intelligent traffic management system. A wonderful center has been created. This center will help resolve many urban traffic problems.

I am told that there are eight such centers in the world, and the center in Baku has the most progressive and advanced technology. I must say that the idea of establishing such a center emerged during my visit to the Republic of Korea. Then I was shown the possibilities of an intelligent traffic management center in Seoul, and we decided to create a similar system in Baku. However, that was several years ago and the problem of traffic jams was not as acute in Baku. But despite this and considering the future development of our country and city, we decided to create this system in Azerbaijan, in Baku.

I am very happy that the Korean side has approached this issue very positively. This system has been created in Azerbaijan, in Baku, with active participation of Korean companies. I have been explained and shown how much benefit this system, this center will bring to the city traffic. Safety issues will be addressed more broadly, new opportunities for traffic management will emerge. Perfect conditions are being created for a more civilized traffic control, the control system is excellent. I am sure that after the system becomes fully operational, every resident of Baku will feel the difference this center will make.

This is an innovation, it is a great step forward. I am very pleased that the vast majority of those working at this center are young people. This is very gratifying. Youths are our future. I am very pleased that we have great, well-trained and professional staff capable of managing this very difficult and complex system. I repeat – this center will play an indispensable role in regulating city traffic.

I hope that at the next stage we will create this system in other cities as well. So in a few years all our cities will have this wonderful system. As a result, this will bring about a unique situation. As I said, this system exists only in eight countries, but covers only one or two cities.

We plan to establish this system in every city, because the intensity of traffic and the number of cars are growing not only in Baku but also in the districts. The conceptual approach applied to Baku should also apply to every city.

Our cities are developing, the population is growing, the number of vehicles is increasing, so there is a need for this system throughout the country. In recent years, we have also taken other important measures to improve traffic management. We are replacing vans with beautiful and comfortable buses and nice taxis. We want the city population to use public transport with comfort. New roads are built, traffic arteries opened, existing roads expanded, road junctions, bridges, tunnels and pedestrian crossings are under construction. Yesterday we opened new pedestrian subways in several places. Today we opened a new tunnel. So we have become accustomed to such events. These issues require significant resources and expertise. If we hadn’t tackled the road infrastructure four to five years ago, I am sure that traffic in Baku would be ground to a halt today. We see the problems of other big cities. When coming to other cities we see that traffic jams take a lot of time, while in rush hours the traffic becomes completely gridlocked.

If we hadn’t done this work on time, a similar situation might have occurred in Baku. By implementing infrastructure projects and taking proactive measures, we stop traffic jams becoming a major problem in Baku. But it is also true that the number of cars is growing and people’s well-being is improving. As a result of the work done and the reforms under way, our citizens live better and buy more cars. We will take additional measures to improve the road transport system in Baku in the coming years. There are specific plans and resources. These issues will be reflected in the investment program for next year.

Along with this, we should also carry on the underground construction. This will also ease the pressure on public transport. One new underground station is built every year now. We already have 23 stations. A concept plan has been prepared – the number of stations to be commissioned by 2015 and 2030. Our plan is to increase the number of underground stations in Baku to 70. I can say that this is a unique program. No other city has a program on the construction of about 50 stations in such a short time, but Baku does.

We will seek, through the adoption of other measures, to tackle transport problems in Baku even more effectively. There are new technologies in the world. We are importing them. A synchronic operation of traffic lights, creation of road junctions and parking facilities. I was shown during a presentation what the possibilities are. New parking lots are under construction on large areas in Baku. Next year new parking space for thousands of cars will be commissioned. This process should also be continued. We approach this work thoroughly, creating a transport system our beautiful city deserves. All bus stops now have electronic displays and surveillance cameras. This contributes to the security of our city. Baku is already a safe and quiet city. People can walk and relax here at night, in the afternoon and in the morning.

The crime rate is very low. But these modern surveillance systems are also a signal to those contemplating a crime.

Everyone should know that no crime will remain unpunished. Surveillance cameras help regulate traffic, but they are also a good monitoring tool.

The transport sector in our country is developing successfully. There is construction everywhere. Trunk-line, inter-city and rural roads are built. The investment made in the transport sector pays off. This investment does not generate revenue immediately. It is not an enterprise or a factory. But the investment made in this sector will bear fruit in a few years. Where there are roads, there will be a new infrastructure, revival and investment. We are building great highways in all directions, we link towns and villages. Look at the positive impact this is having on people's lives, on business development. Modern hotels are built in our beautiful and picturesque places. If there are no roads, no-one will invest a single manat. Roads and electricity come first. So our investment programs envisage most funds for roads and the transport sector. We will continue this work both in Baku and the districts in the following years. Thus, Azerbaijan will have the most sophisticated road and transport infrastructure. Most of it has already been created.

Other sectors of transport are also developing. We are developing the rail, air and sea transport, buying new liners, tankers, ferries, building new international airports. This year we built an international airport in Gabala. In recent years Azerbaijan has built airports in Nakhchivan, Ganja, Zagatala, Lankaran and Gabala. A beautiful terminal building and a new runway are under construction at the Heydar Aliyev International Airport.

Transport is an important sector for all countries, especially those with a favorable geographical location. Azerbaijan is located at the crossroads of continents. If we don’t pay enough attention to these issues, our geographical location won’t help us. We are creating a strong transport infrastructure. We are building a shipyard. We will also build the vessels, another means of transport, ourselves. The Caspian region's biggest international trading port is under construction in Alat. All this work requires very large resources.

But we are doing it and will continue to do so.

We do this in order to strengthen our country and provide qualified services. This center has also required a lot of money.

But we are doing it in order to provide quality services, so that our people don’t waste time in traffic jams and can drive comfortably. Everything is done for the people, for the country, for the state! That is our principle.

At the same time, I repeat, I am pleased with the opening of every new facility in Azerbaijan. In particular, the establishment of such a modern and forward-looking institution is quite special and pleases me a lot. I am absolutely sure that all residents and visitors of our city will feel the benefits of this center.

My recommendation to you is to run this center well. The level of services and management here should correspond to the equipment available. I am sure that this will be the case. I congratulate you on this wonderful event and wish you every success. Thank you.