Ilham Aliyev attended the opening of a new bridge over the Kura River in Sabirabad
29 August 2013, 19:35
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has attended the opening of a new bridge over the Kura River in Sabirabad.
First, the President met with representatives of the district public.
Greeting the ceremony participants, President Ilham Aliyev said:
- It is a great and memorable day today. We are meeting again, this time to celebrate the opening of this beautiful bridge.
The construction of the bridge was proposed by local residents. I remember this suggestion being made when I was visiting Sabirabad last time, two years ago. A relevant instruction was issued immediately. After returning to Baku, I signed an executive order and funds were allocated. Then we provided additional funds, the construction of the bridge was incorporated into the state budget and the state investment program. And we are now gathered for the opening of this bridge. I sincerely congratulate you on this wonderful event.
This bridge will be used by tens of thousands of people. I am told that this bridge connects 16 villages.
The construction of the bridge was very important indeed. The construction of this bridge actually epitomizes the unity between the people and the government of Azerbaijan. All our initiatives and our entire work are carried out for the people, at the request of the people and on the basis of suggestions from the ground. Our people are the main source of our program on the development of regions. The main direction of the program is to serve the people of Azerbaijan. At present, the second state program is coming to an end.
The program is likely to be overfulfilled. The third state program on the socioeconomic development of the regions is being prepared and will be adopted early next year. The third program is also prepared on the basis of suggestions from the ground because people on the ground know best what needs to be done. One of the reasons for my visits to the districts, including Sabirabad, is to familiarize myself with the situation and see what needs to be done, what more needs to be done so that we could complete all this work.
In recent years, dozens, perhaps even more than a hundred bridges have been built in Azerbaijan. Building bridges is a great thing. Bridges give life and comfort. Bridges mean development. Bridges, roads and tunnels have been built in every region and district in recent years. One can now come from Baku to Sabirabad on a comfortable road. This road was in a deplorable condition. Every time I came to Sabirabad before, I noted with regret that the road was in poor condition. We issued the instruction on the construction of the road. Excellent roads have been laid to Sabirabad and Saatli. Then, this road will be extended to Goradiz. This will give people comfort and development. At the same time, the construction of roads is giving a boost to regional development.
There is construction of roads, bridges and rural roads. Rural roads are also built in this region. They were built in the past and will be built in the coming years too.
A lot has been done. Sabirabad is improving and landscaping. I last visited Sabirabad two years ago. I can see that great changes have taken place. Beautiful buildings are built, old ones restored and parks set up. A magnificent Heydar Aliyev Center has been built. I will go there from here. You are well aware of the great leader’s attitude to Sabirabad. In the 1970-1980s, he visited Sabirabad every year and examined the situation. In was in those years that the directions for the development of Sabirabad were identified. He was here in the 1990s. As in all other areas, I am trying to continue his policy in this area too. This is my fifth visit to Sabirabad. And every time, especially after my last visit, I can see that truly large changes are taking place.
The city is modernizing and improving. Beautiful buildings, schools and hospitals are emerging. But there is still much to do. Among the work to be carried out in the next few years, a water supply project will be of particular importance. A major project on drinking water will be launched in Sabirabad at the end of this year or early next year. I think that we should try to finally resolve this problem by the end of 2014. There is a great need for that. As you know, drinking water is supplied to the city intermittently. Sometimes its quality is not up to standard either. This project will also be implemented. Earlier, water treatment plants were installed in the villages along the river. But to provide a lasting solution to the water problem in Sabirabad, a large project will be launched in the near future. This project is designed up to 2035. So population growth has been taken into account. Clean and high-quality drinking water will be supplied on a round-the-clock basis.
Another important project is related to gasification. We will carry out this project as well. This elder seems to agree. This project will also be fully implemented. All the villages will be provided with gas by 100 per cent. I am told that most of the city is already gasified. But in the villages there is either little gas or its quality is inadequate. Therefore, the State Oil Company has received the necessary instructions. Extensive work on gasification will be carried out in the near future. I want to say again that all the villages of Sabirabad will be gasified. We will carry out this project too.
A pilot project related to electricity is under way. In fact, we don’t have any problems with electricity or generation. We have built a sufficient number of new stations. The latest station was built in the city of Shirvan. But transmission lines are sometimes in disrepair or out of date. Therefore, transmission lines and electrical equipment must be completely reconstructed. Recent years have seen tremendous progress in this area. In general, there is no problem with electricity.
There is enough electricity. But we have to make sure that power supply is uninterrupted and round-the-clock, while transmission lines have no problems.
Rural roads are and will be built. Schools are built. But there are schools in emergency condition in the villages. There are 14 schools in in Sabirabad District that are in disrepair. There are also schools in need in renovation.
This problem will also be resolved. The key issue is that all the problems have to be resolved. We are aware of these problems and build our work on the basis of the information we are receiving from the ground. At the center of our policies are citizens of Azerbaijan, their interests, safety, prosperity and health. We have done and will continue to do everything for the health, well-being and safety of our people. Our country is rapidly moving forward. Every region is improving. This is the work we are doing.
Underlying all of this work is a strong economy. And this strong economy has been created by us. All of this has been possible thanks to the implementation of the oil strategy on the initiative of great leader Heydar Aliyev. The oil revenues are channeled into the human capital. I want to say again that everything should be done for the people of Azerbaijan.
And we are doing that.
Our economy is strong and continues to grow. The crisis continues to dominate the world. But we are not feeling it. Some countries are reducing wages and pensions and cutting jobs. In the meantime, we have raised salaries and pensions and created new jobs. These are our realities. This is a great achievement and a great asset for Azerbaijan.
We should continue this development in the future too. To do this, the people and the government should be as united as ever. This unity has preconditioned all of our successes. Our work is very specific. Bridges, roads, water and gas lines, schools - this is very specific work. People are seeing and enjoying it. I am sure that we will have many more meetings like this in the future. Similar opening ceremonies are expected in Sabirabad in the future. And in an effort to continue the policy of the great leader, I will try to come to Sabirabad often.
RESIDENTS: Thank you very much!
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After that, the President of Azerbaijan reviewed the stands reflecting the plan of the bridge.
It was noted that the construction of the bridge is important to address the traffic problems faced by the residents of nearby villages. In accordance with the Decree of the President of Azerbaijan dated 25 May 2011 "On additional measures to improve the road infrastructure in Sabirabad District", funds in the amount of 2 million manats were initially allocated for the construction of a new bridge over the section of the Kura River flowing through the Javad village. The construction of the bridge began in July 2011. The estimated cost of the project is 8.9 million manats. The project owner is the Sabirabad District Executive Authority, while construction work has been carried out by "Ganja Korpu Tikinti -2" OJSC.
It was noted that the bridge connects the city of Sabirabad with 16 villages located in the Shirvan plain and three villages of Kurdamir District. The length of the 8-span bridge is 153 meters, the total width is 10.7 meters and the width of the carriageway is 8.4 meters. On the right and left sides of the bridge there are pedestrian paths 1.15 meters wide. In addition, a 5-hectare adjacent area has been extensively landscaped. The bridge is used by residents of 16 villages of Sabirabad
District with a population of over 32,000 people.
The head of state cut the ribbon symbolizing the opening of the bridge.
After reviewing the bridge, the President of Azerbaijan gave further instructions.
