Azerbaijan, Baku / Тrend corr I. Khalilova / The experts of SK C& C South-Korean consortium will be visiting Baku between 27 to 29 August in order to discuss with the Azerbaijan Transport Ministry the further actions on introduction of a transportation intelligence system in Baku, the Director of the Transportation Policy and Economic Department of the Transportation Ministry, Sadraddin Mammadov, reported on 22 August.
SK C& C developed research on the project for the Transportation Ministry, after their recommendations were submitted to the Azerbaijani Government. "Further action will be taken on the basis of the Government's decision, namely the development of the feasibility study will begin," Mammadov said.
Research showed that the introduction of this system will result in the regulation of traffic lights and bus stations. Their numbers decreased after the construction of bridges and pedestrian crossings, Mammadov said. This system will enable the sending of operative information about vehicle's movement, speed, stops, traffic accidents, jams, and other cases to central control points.
The Transportation Ministry has plans to establish an Intelligence Transportation Management system in Baku within two years. The South Korean Transportation Ministry will assist Azerbaijan in the project. A memorandum on the intentions was signed with the South Korean Ministry in Seoul on 24 April 2007.
According to preliminary calculations, the intelligence transportation management system will be established in two stages. The first stage envisages the introduction of the system in an area covering Baku's centre of Azizbeyov circle by the end of 2008. The second stage provides for expansion of the system to the entire city. All these arrangements shall be implemented by the end of 2009.
Unlike Seoul, with its world's most perfect and functional intelligence transportation management system established within ten years, the technologies to be introduced in Baku will be more modern. In Seoul the system was also established by SK C& C and is named Seoul-Topics. The purpose of establishing this system in Baku is to regulate the transportation system from one main centre to facilitate coordination and problem-solving.
The initial cost of the project is $50-55mln. The funds are planned to be allotted by Azerbaijan's public budget.