The Baku Metro Production Association (PA) intends to apply chip cards from November,” Elbrus Mammadov, the chief engineer of the Baku Metro PA, told Trend. Chip cards will be sold along with jetons.
The chip cards are used at Baku Metro from April 2005. An experimental device for reception of the cards was installed at Elmlar Akademiyasi subway station. The Baku Metro plans to install similar devices at other stations as well. The card costs $4 with 250-manat fare.
The International Bank of Azerbaijan is involved in the pilot project. Visa cards were issued by Azerikard Company.
The goal of the project is to cancel jetons in 2007 and determine real level of the state grants to the Baku Metro.
The Baku Metro transports 500,000 people in a day.