New concept of transport activity to improve services
State Road Transport Service under the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies of Azerbaijan has presented a new concept of regulation of activity of motor transport in the country on June 11.
At the presentation of the concept, head of the Service, Habib Hasanov, said that a number of normative legal acts were prepared and submitted to the relevant authorities in order to improve state regulation and control mechanisms in the field of motor transport.
“The new concept provides for a wider use of up-to-date information technologies, electronic services, and for ensuring transparency of the structure, improving the services provided to citizens, and reducing to a minimum the contact of citizens and officials,” Hasanov said.
He also noted that the State Road Transport Service is consulting with the Ministry of Taxes to improve the tax mechanism used in passenger and cargo transportation.
“In this area, the use of modern technologies will help ensure the timely payment of tax in full, as well as the strengthening of control over tax evasion,” Hasanov said.
He went on to say that the Service has prepared a plan of complex measures to update the fleet of vehicles, adding that the operational period and technical condition of the fleet of vehicles is one of the main factors of concern.
“The researches showed that at present in Azerbaijan the operational period of 77 percent of buses and 81 percent of trucks exceeds 10 years. This leads to the obsolescence of the car fleet and creates problems for the comfortable and safe transportation of passengers. In this regard, in order to update the fleet of vehicles and reduce the average operating period to 10 years in the next five years, a comprehensive measures plan was prepared,” Hasanov said.
The head of the service noted that the prepared proposals at the legislative level reflected the implementation of incentive and supportive measures.
Hasanov added that the service is preparing proposals to improve the methodology for inspecting vehicles and drivers.
“It should be noted that, unfortunately, there are a number of shortcomings associated with inspecting the technical condition of vehicles and the medical condition of drivers before the flights. There are certain gaps in the legislation and the mechanism for carrying out inspections. Also there is no garage in the necessary volume, and the carriers lack the material and technical base. We are preparing proposals to improve the methodology of inspections. Cooperation with consulting companies operating in this sphere is also envisaged,” Hasanov stressed.
Further he stressed that in 2017, revenues from road transport in Azerbaijan amounted to more than 1.27 billion manats ($747 million), adding that last year on the territory of the country by automobile transport 144.85 million tons of cargo and 1.74 billion passengers were transported.
“On the whole, 64 percent of the transported goods and 88 percent of passengers were transported by road,” he said.
Hasanov further noted that the State Transport Service plans to introduce a single electronic system for buying tickets for bus transportations.
According to the head of the service, the country is taking comprehensive measures to expand the network of bus stations and bus stations and improve infrastructure.
“Baku International Bus Terminal is undergoing reconstruction work to ensure a safer, more convenient and controlled movement of buses, cars and taxis. The main issues that are at the center of attention are the creation of a dispatching center for intercity transportation of passengers, as well as the introduction of a single electronic ticketing system and its integration with ticket sales systems for other modes of transport,” Hasanov said.
The head of the service noted that at the same time a package of proposals is being prepared to ensure the movement of intercity and international buses on the principle of “from the bus station to the bus station”.