AZE.US
Passenger service along Baku’s Caspian coast could offer an alternative to congested roads, but no concrete project is currently under consideration, officials and lawmakers said.
The idea of using sea transport to ease traffic in the Azerbaijani capital has periodically returned to public debate. Coastal routes could connect shoreline districts and allow some commuters to bypass road congestion.
Residents interviewed for an ITV television report supported studying the idea, saying ferry-style links could shorten travel times and reduce pressure on the road network. Some cited Istanbul and other cities where water transport is part of the public-transit system.
Milli Majlis member Arzuhan Alizade said Baku’s location on the Caspian Sea makes water transport worth considering as an alternative mode of travel. He said city authorities should bring in specialists to study the coastline, the location of population centers and the practical requirements for regular service.
Alizade said any decision should follow a dedicated feasibility study rather than public discussion alone.
The Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company, known as ASCO, said passenger service along Baku’s coast is not in its current plans and that it has received no formal proposal or request for such a project.
ASCO’s main activities remain cargo transportation and specialized services for the offshore oil and gas sector. Regular coastal passenger routes are not currently included in the company’s program.
AZE.US