AZE.US
The suspension of train service between Baku Metro’s 28 May and Nizami stations for approximately 10 to 11 months has triggered complaints from residents who fear longer journeys and additional transportation costs.
The closure is connected to construction work intended to separate the metro’s Red and Green lines, AZE.US reports.
The disruption is expected to affect students and employees who travel through central Baku every day. Several universities, shopping areas and office buildings are located near the 28 May station, meaning some commuters may now have to make several transfers.
“Some people already change buses two or three times. Now they will need another connection. It will affect both their finances and their nerves,” one resident said during a street survey by Musavat.
Most passengers acknowledge that the construction work may be necessary but argue that the authorities must provide an affordable alternative. Their main concern is whether replacement buses serving the closed section will require a separate fare.
“Students will have to pay for a bus to another station and then pay again for the metro,” another resident said. “There should either be a single fare or the replacement service should be free.”
Some commuters said they may walk part of the route to avoid paying twice. Others remain uncertain about how they will reach their workplaces once the metro connection is suspended.
One respondent who lives in Russia said free replacement buses are typically introduced there when metro stations are temporarily closed, with dedicated traffic lanes sometimes provided to reduce delays.
Baku residents are calling for a similar arrangement. They argue that passengers should not face additional financial burdens when a major public transportation link is unavailable for nearly a year because of infrastructure work.
Transport authorities are now expected to clarify whether the replacement buses will be free, whether a unified bus-and-metro fare will be introduced and what measures will be taken to prevent commuters from losing hours in traffic.
AZE.US