Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 15 / Trend E.Ismayilov /
By May, the Azerbaijani Transport Ministry under the creation of an intellectual transport management system in Baku will complete the installation of communication devices in all buses. This will provide data on bus journeys and drivers which will be sent back to central control, a spokesman for the Ministry Namiq Hasanov told Trend on Wednesday.
He said equipment had already been installed in 2096 buses operating in the capital.
"These devices have not yet been installed in the buses operating in the suburbs, but by May they will cover all buses operating in Baku," Mr Hasanov said.
He noted the Ministry of Transport received several complaints from passengers about finding the installed devices not working. Subsequent monitoring determined that the equipment did not work for a number of reasons.
"Due to the fact that currently the process of commissioning the first phase of the introduction of intelligent system and download of all necessary software is incomplete on some of the buses, it is not yet possible for those buses which already have the installed equipment to operate fully.
"However in May, work on the first phase of the system will be up and running and work at full capacity," Mr Hasanov said. He added that drivers who interfere with the devices will be dismissed.
Work under the second phase of the implementation of intelligent system is scheduled to begin in June, 2012.
If the first phase of the system covers Baku, the second phase will cover the outskirts of the city and the Absheron peninsula. In the third phase it is planned to cover the major highways of the country.
The intellectual transport management system costing more than $ 95 million was launched in December, 2011. After completion, the system will be controlled from the centre of Baku.
Creation of the system sees the installation of 664 units of information terminals, and 48 units of placards which were placed along the streets of Baku. In order to introduce the system, 639 sites (pockets) will be created for buses and about 140 sites for taxis.