Baku metro shifts to new system

/By AzerNews/

By Amina Nazarli

Baku Metro moves to “Baki Kart” new card cashless fare, according to the company.

The new payment system will replace the cards currently used at the Baku metro. The advantage of the new cards is that they can be used both in the metro and for travel by bus.

The presentation of the cards and appropriate equipment is scheduled for August 6. The cards will go on sale on August 8.

“Baki Kart” terminals have been installed at Baku metro stations. The cost of the new card is two manats ($1.91).

The older cards can be returned and their value (two manats) will be credited to the balance of the new one.

The Baku Metro, with a length of thirty-five kilometers, has 2 lines and 23 stations. It is planned to enlarge it to 119 km with 5 lines and up to 76 stations by 2030.

Earlier, the company said that it is planning to establish its first two stations of the ‘violet’ line – ‘Avtovokzal" and ‘Memar Ajami-2’.

Baku Metro Chairman Zaur Huseynov said that Azerbaijan will put the B-3 and B-4 stations along the ‘violet line’ into operation in 2016 and 2017. The ‘violet line’ of Baku subway will consist of 12 stations.

Baku Metro is also going to change its appearance in the coming years and will create new stations based on the most modern technologies.

Metro services are also planned for the most populated and developed cities of the country, including Sumgayit, Nakhchivan, and Ganja.

The Metro is one of the fastest ways to travel in Baku, and also the most inexpensive. The fare for a subway is 20 kopecks ($0.19).