Azernews.Az

By Gulgiz Dadashova

According to preliminary estimates, the average cost of the Baku Regional Development Plan can reach 4-5 billion manat, Head of the State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture of Azerbaijan Abbas Alesgerov said on Friday.

"The World Bank has given a positive opinion on the feasibility of the project. The next public hearing on the project will be held in June or July," he said adding that the draft project was amended following the previous hearings.

Azerbaijan and the World Bank signed a credit agreement in 2007 for the preparation of the Baku Regional Development Plan that envisions future development of the city with its 11 surrounding areas, Sumgayit, the country's third largest city, and the entire Absheron Peninsula until 2030.

The plan, which covers an area of nearly 250,000 hectares, has been developed through coordination with the Baku State Design Institute.

The project sketches are being prepared jointly with consultants on issues of economic development (US specialist Kay Miller), environmental issues (the Spanish company Eptisa) and urban planning (Italian Angelo de Urso).

Experts noted that initial studies covered the dynamics of the growth of these areas for 20 years and possible population growth in the region. It is estimated that by 2030, the population in the area will increase to 3.5 million people.

Azerbaijan's total population is currently more than 9.3 million.

Under the plan, street and road network of the city will increase by hundreds of kilometers, the number of polluted lakes and city pollution will be significantly reduced. 22,000 hectares of oil-field areas will be recultivated into the urban zone, parks and public gardens will be established in an area of 34,000 hectares.