BAKU, Azerbaijan - Authorities have stopped unlicensed shared taxis from operating near Baku’s 20 January metro station and along Moscow Avenue, prompting complaints from commuters who relied on the low-cost service to reach surrounding suburbs.
The vehicles, widely known as “one-manat taxis,” carried several passengers traveling in the same direction, with each rider paying for a seat. The service was used by people traveling toward Jeyranbatan, Saray, Sumgait, Khirdalan and Masazir, according to Vesti Baku.
Residents interviewed in a televised street survey said the suspension removed an affordable option at a busy transport hub. Some complained that buses serving the area are crowded and that waiting times are long, especially during the evening rush.
One passenger said an individually booked taxi could cost 10 manats for a trip that cost each rider one manat in a shared vehicle. “The driver made money, and it was also economical for the passenger,” the resident said in the report.
Other commuters said even a small increase in daily transport costs would matter for households on limited budgets. Some said they had willingly paid for the shared cars because the trips were faster and more comfortable than crowded buses.
The Azerbaijan Land Transport Agency, known as AYNA, said passenger carriers must obtain the permits required by law and that operating without authorization carries legal liability, according to the original report by Musavat.
The enforcement action covers the area around 20 January station and Moscow Avenue, where informal drivers had gathered passengers at roadside pickup points. The practice offered cheap transport but also caused cars and riders to congregate near traffic lanes and bus stops.
The television presenter whose program carried the survey acknowledged that the informal pickup system obstructed traffic but argued that authorities could organize a designated boarding area and a departure queue instead of eliminating the service entirely. She said she had also used the shared taxis because they saved time.
AYNA has recently taken other steps to reorganize public transport infrastructure on Moscow Avenue. On Sept. 24, the agency said it was installing six new bus shelters along the avenue, including near the route from the 20 January roundabout toward the area known as Shamakhi Road.
Officials have not announced a direct replacement matching the informal service’s one-manat price and flexible departures. For commuters, the immediate questions are how much more the trip home will cost and whether regular buses can absorb the additional demand.
The dispute highlights a broader transport challenge for greater Baku: enforcing licensing and traffic rules while maintaining affordable, frequent links between the capital’s metro network and fast-growing suburban communities.