Baku Metro holds panel conference "Unchanging values, changing opportunities"

Baku Metro CJSC marks its 10th anniversary. It was established in 2014 by the Order of the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, through the merger of Baku Metro and Azertunelmetrotikinti JSC.

Dedicated to the 10th anniversary of Baku Metro’s new status and titled "Unchanging values, changing opportunities", the conference consisted of 5 panels and featured the leaders and delegations from institutions that have closely cooperated with the metro over the past 10 years.

The main panel, echoing the conference’s title, discussed the unchanging values and the benefits of new opportunities that have emerged and changed over time.

Baku Metro CJSC’s Chairman Zaur Huseynov briefly reflected on the past decade and honored the bright memory of the deceased workers, while mentioning the role of the team in the achievements over these years. 

He noted that when Baku Metro CJSC was established, the main task set for the company by President Ilham Aliyev was to introduce leading world technologies, new management systems, and best global practices to the metro. Real steps have been taken in this direction thanks to the determination and dedication of the team. 

A deputy minister of Digital Development and Transport and member of the Supervisory Board of Baku Metro CJSC, Samir Mammadov, spoke about the development and integration of transport, especially public transport in recent years, emphasizing the role of the metro in this regard, and the activity of the Supervisory Board established by the Decree of the President of Azerbaijan.

Ruslan Alikhanov, Chief Executive Officer of Azerbaijan Investment Holding, touched upon the efficiency of the operations of Baku Metro CJSC after it was transferred to the Holding’s management, pointing out the positive effects of the new management model.

In the second panel dedicated to technologies which are a criterion of high-quality service, Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Rauf Hajiyev focused his speech on the declaration of 2024 as the "Year of Solidarity for a Green World" and the COP29 event to be held in our country in this regard. 

Acknowledging the metro as an ecological mode of transport, he also touched on the role of the subway as the main transport artery during the upcoming large-scale event. In his speech, he also talked about the projects implemented together with the metro, and including a project the efficient use of groundwater, tree planting campaigns, and other issues.

Deputy Chairman of Baku Metro CJSC Hidayat Mammadov spoke about the major projects that have been implemented, mentioning the replacement of wooden sleepers with locally produced reinforced concrete blocks and its effectiveness, and the full modernization of the reinforced concrete production in this respect. 

He touched upon the steps taken to reconstruct the metro stations, describing it as important as station construction itself. In this regard, he demonstrated the importance of reconstruction works at Nizami, Sahil, Bakmil, Khatai, Elmlar Akademiyasi and Jafar Jabbarli stations with visual examples. 

He characterized the creation of a test track for trains and a new type of dispatcher control center built on the basis of a unique project at Narimanov electric depot as a historic technical achievement. Describing the security of tunnels as the most important ongoing work performed by the Baku Metro, he pointed out the successful implementation of large-scale complex projects in mines and track sections.

Head of the Production and Technical Department of Baku Metro CJSC, Namig Yusubov, spoke about the most important innovative digital projects of recent years. In this regard, the automation the train repair process and transition to digital technologies is not only an important achievement but is also designed to significantly improve the quality of the repair process in the depot. 

He pointed out the advantages of the fire protection system which had been successfully tested as a pilot project in trains, its central control functions and most importantly, its ability to constantly monitor the equipment and parts of the train. Another technical innovation of the metro is the diagnostics complex. Previously, after checking with a track measuring car, only 3 parameters were manually processed on paper for days, while the new complex provides accurate technical assessment with more than 120 measurements of about 80 parameters, and all data is immediately transferred to the fields. 

Namig Yusubov also touched upon the main factors characterizing Baku Metro as an environmentally friendly mode of transport. In addition, he provided information on new train washing method based on ecological requirements, under-train equipment blowing, recuperation systems and greening projects. 

Opening the third panel dedicated to "Innovations as the main criterion of modern requirements", Chief Operating Engineer of Baku Metro CJSC Azad Mustafayev touched upon the innovations in the energy sector, in particular the use of diesel generators, the renovation of engineering structures, especially escalators and ventilation. 

He mentioned the installation of the most modern systems for ensuring train traffic at the Khojasan electric depot and in the Narimanov depot, along with the use of the axle counter system and its effectiveness.

Faig Ahmadov, Head of the Depot Operations Department of the Baku Metro, demonstrated the new generation of carriages purchased and the organization of their service and maintenance locally with visual aids. In this sense, he also expressed his views on the implementation of innovative solutions in the depot which has been operating since 1967 and the reconstruction of repair areas. 

He particularly emphasized the organization of major repairs and modernization locally as a turning point in carriage repair. 

He also spoke about the new technologies applied in relation to the full automation of carriages. Another fundamental innovation in carriage repair is the creation of an engine repair area. It has helped to improve the quality of repair by up to 80 percent. This area serves not only for the repair of carriages but also for the engines of all engineering and technical installations.

Director General of the Azerbaijan office of Siemens Azer Guliyev touched on the construction of new substations and reconstruction of old ones within the framework of joint projects with Baku Metro in recent years. 

He called the implementation of the world's leading technologies in Baku Metro CJSC a reliable guarantee that will last for decades to come.

Opening the fourth panel called "Innovation - a new management criterion", Ali Aliyev, Head of the Human Resources and Project Management Department of Baku Metro CJSC, spoke about the optimization measures applied in the Metro. Noting that technical innovations pose new challenges to the metro, he talked about the work schedule and functional division of labor among train drivers, platform attendants, and dispatchers. 

He also touched on social projects and corporate responsibility programs. In this regard, he touched on the activity of the Center, which is the only one in the country, that brings together the families of martyrs and war veterans. 

In addition, he mentioned the projects implemented for the family members of the employees. especially their children. He also spoke in detail about the social projects designed for passengers. In his speech, he presented information about the "Accessible Metro" project, describing it as the most important social project, and emphasized the role of volunteer Jamila Mammadli in this regard.

Head of the Training Center of Baku Metro CJSC Rufat Gadashov talked about the activities of the Center, emphasizing the selection and extensive training courses for drivers and dispatchers for the first time in the metro station. 

He also presented statistical data on higher and secondary education, as well as interaction with relevant state institutions, and spoke about joint projects. The head of the Center also mentioned the unique projects implemented for the selection of young people.

In his speech, Sabir Gojayev, the head of the Disability Policy Department of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population, praised the joint projects implemented with Baku Metro in recent years, especially those related to passengers with physical disabilities. 

In general, while talking about issues related to the organization of labor and the social protection of workers, he touched on the multifaceted aspects of effective cooperation with the Baku Metro.