AZE.US
Private parking lots are becoming increasingly common in central Baku and other heavily congested areas, but their prices are often significantly higher than state-regulated parking rates.
At one private facility, drivers pay 1 manat, or about $0.59, for the first hour and 2 manats, or roughly $1.18, for each additional hour. In some parts of the city, parking can cost between 8 and 10 manats, equivalent to approximately $4.70 to $5.90.
Prices largely depend on location. The highest fees are typically charged in the city center and near shopping malls, restaurants and other busy commercial sites.
Adil Abdullayev, an employee at a private parking facility, said operators calculate their prices based on expenses such as security services, surveillance cameras and maintenance.
Transport expert Ragif Raufoglu said private parking fees are determined by supply and demand, as there is no uniform tariff regulating these facilities.
According to him, shopping centers and other businesses sometimes raise parking prices to prevent drivers from leaving their cars there while visiting other locations.
Higher fees are intended to discourage long stays and keep spaces available for customers who come to shop for one or two hours.
Operators also monitor how motorists respond to price increases. If demand remains steady despite higher rates, some facilities may raise their fees again.
Drivers frequently complain that private parking in Baku is too expensive. Operators, however, argue that the prices reflect security costs, maintenance expenses and the need to control the number of vehicles using limited parking space.
Without a single regulated tariff, parking prices can vary sharply from one part of Baku to another.
AZE.US