Azernews.Az

By Aynur Jafarova

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev reviewed the progress of the construction of the Baku Olympic Stadium on February 28.

Head of Azerbaijan's state energy company SOCAR Rovnag Abdullayev informed the Head of State in detail about the work done on the project.

Various views of the stadium were shown to the Azerbaijani president, and it was noted that the latest equipment and materials were used in the construction work.

It was also noted that the logo of the Baku Olympic Stadium is striking in its excellence and cutting-edge global experiences are applied in the construction of the stadium.

It was reported that the construction organizations of SOCAR had prepared the territory where the stadium is situated for the construction work. The implementation of the project got under way in November 2012.

The foundation stone of the 70,000-capacity Baku Olympic Stadium was laid in 2011 at a ceremony attended by the Head of State. The stadium is being built in line with the latest standards, and a large part of the project's work has already been completed.

The main stadium is being built there, along with an ancillary stadium for training and an auxiliary building.

The sports facility will also have a sector for disabled spectators. The stadium project is notable for its economic viability, modernity, and functionality and is in maximum keeping with the architecture of the capital and the proposed technical specifications.

In line with international Olympic standards, it is envisaged that the spectators will travel to and from the stadium mostly by public transports.

It was reported that a 3,100-capacity car park will also be built on the territory. The area around the stadium will be given a major face-lift and broad-scale landscaping will be carried out.

After reviewing the progress of the construction work, President Aliyev gave the appropriate instructions and recommendations.

On the same day, President Aliyev inspected the progress achieved on the environmental improvement activities in the Boyukshor Lake and the adjacent areas.

This environmental restoration activity is one of the projects implemented for the upcoming European Olympic Games in Baku in 2015.

Economy and Industry Minister Shahin Mustafayev told the Head of State that improving the environmental conditions of the Boyukshor Lake is part of the action plan on improving the environmental conditions of 9 lakes in the Absheron peninsular.

This action plan is included into the state program on socio-economic development of Baku and its surrounding towns in 2014-2016.

The project will have two stages. The first one envisages cleaning 300 hectares of oil and waste water polluted area around the Olympic Stadium in 2014-2015 and building a boulevard on the bank of the lake which will run to the stadium.

The second includes returning the lake to its natural boundaries, regulating the water level, and restoring the ecosystem in 2015-2020.

President Aliyev gave his instructions and recommendations on the project, and afterwards examined the construction work in the Hasan Aliyev Street-Ziya Bunyadov Avenue-Olympic Stadium Highway.

The Head of State was briefed on the specifications of the road, and was told that the length of the highway that would extend from the Hasan Aliyev Street to the Koroghlu metro station would be 17 km.

The road will have four and six lanes. Since the previous road was too narrow, it caused traffic congestion. In addition, overpasses, tunnels, and pedestrian passages will be built along the highway.

Part of the road that will reach the Hasan Aliyev Street will be completed in the first stage. The second stage will be the conclusion of the construction work on the part that extends from the Hasan Aliyev Street to the Ganjlik subway station.

The main aim of the project is to link the Koroglu subway station to both downtown and through the Hasan Aliyev Street with the Ganjlik station.

This highway will also help to provide transportation access to the Olympic Stadium which is under construction. The road will also ease access of Baku's surrounding towns to the internationally important highways, and reduce the traffic in the city center.

President Aliyev gave his instructions and recommendations on this project as well.