Azernews.Az

By Aynur Jafarova

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has presented some recommendations on the elimination of traffic congestions in Azerbaijan, head of ADB's Baku office, Olli Norojono, said on December 16.

Norojono said that the bank has conducted an analysis of the transport sector and submitted the results to the government.

"We offered Azerbaijan to eliminate congestion by introducing additional lines for buses, as well as providing a more comfortable transition from one kind of transport to another and the improvement of road infrastructure in general," he said.

The official noted the bank also analyzed the possibility of introducing toll roads and welcomed such a move.

"The report was submitted to the Azerbaijani government and the latter is to make a decision on the occasion," Norojono explained.

"The Bank is also ready to take part in the realization of the Regional Development Plan of Greater Baku," he said.

Norojono went on to say that ADB is ready to offer Azerbaijan $45 million worth of the new tranche of multi-tranche financing facility (MFF) Road Network Development Program.

Norojono noted the tranche will be spent on construction of four bridges and locally important roads in the city of Ganja.

ADB has conducted an appraisal of the Ganja beltway construction project. The bank has set aside $55 million in a loan for the project.

ADB approved a $500 million loan for road upgrades in Azerbaijan in 2008.

Earlier Azerbaijani Transport Ministry and ADB jointly organized a consultation meeting with relevant agencies to discuss Baku urban transport issues.

The meeting was held as part of a technical assistance (TA) grant for preparing sustainable urban transport program for Baku.

A $925,000 grant was approved by ADB in 2012 to conduct the TA which will support the Azerbaijani government in establishing an urban transport sector road map and investment program for Baku's metropolitan area.

Musa Panahov, the Deputy Transport Minister, chaired the meeting, during of which a French consulting firm was selected to conduct the TA and present a preliminary report.

David Margonsztern, ADB's urban development specialist, briefed the meeting participants that, "The study will carry on throughout 2014 and will produce a multi-modal traffic forecasting model to analyze different options and recommend notably a parking strategy, traffic management measures, new mass-transit systems such as Bus Rapid Transit on strategic corridors, improvement of the road network and main junctions, intermodal hubs, public bicycle sharing schemes and other innovative and sustainable actions to improve Baku's traffic and relieve the capital city of its congestion".

The Manila-based ADB is dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration.

Established in 1966, it is owned by 67 members, including 48 from the region. In 2012, ADB assistance totaled $21.6 billion, including co-financing of $8.3 billion.

Azerbaijan's share in the bank's capital is 0.5 percent.