IS BAKU READY FOR WINTER?

Winter has heralded its coming fairly aggressively with a drastic fall in the air temperature. The weathermen have already warned that we can expect a hard winter with snow, rain and blizzards. These warnings remind us of the winter three years ago, when snow fell "unexpectedly", something which is extremely rare for us, and the icy roads almost brought the traffic to a halt, causing many-kilometre-long traffic jams and accidents. Even though some roads were sprinkled with sand to combat the slippery surface, many drivers were unable to cope with steering on the icy roads. 

Focusing on the problems

But snow-covered roads are not the only difficulty that needs tackling in winter. Although there have not been any particular problems with the electricity and gas supply in the city's central districts over the last few years, the central heating system has not always been up to scratch. In spite of the fact that it is now at least two weeks since the heating season started, many townspeople have justly been complaining about the miserable heating since their radiators are cold. The townspeople are also complaining about the baneful state of the pavements and about the side roads in the housing estates. Many people have noticed the same old story when the asphalt surface of the roads is repaired, that the pavements cannot be used because of the rubble dumped on them owing to the asphalting of the road. It is all piled up on the pavement where it remains and solidifies. As a result, the pedestrian pathway, which was not in the best condition even before that happened, becomes even worse.

The situation is made even worse when the builders, when replacing the curb edges with marble ones, which everyone knows are much higher than the old ones, they generally do not make them level with the pavement in height. After all these transformations, when they step over the curb, pedestrians find themselves plunging into an "abyss". Just imagine what it is like for elderly people, children, women with prams, and disabled people. Incidentally, one vivid example of such an extreme pavement is the one on B.Sardarov Street, not far from the building of Baku's Executive Administration. That is, moreover, right in the centre of the city. Not to mention the fact that there are very few pavements in the city fitted with ramps. And, if the pedestrian zone, which is in a grievous condition, is sprinkled with snow as well, then this adds the finishing touches to the dire state of things. 

The condition of the roads within the housing estates does not fill one with confidence either. Motorists frequently get the impression that the city authorities repair the same roads over and over again, while the surface of the side roads remains in the same terrible condition year after year. 

Rain is even more of a reason for concern. Everyone knows that, if there is torrential rain, Baku grinds to a standstill. The flooding in the streets results in many-hour-long traffic jams on the roads. Sometimes torrential rainfall causes flooding of the cellars in private houses in the suburbs and in the blocks of flats in the capital's centre. Whereas Baku does not often get snow in the winter, only in exceptional circumstances, it definitely does have rainfall. Therefore, the first thing that the municipal services should be concerned about is the state of the drainage system in the capital.

The readiness of the services

All these shortcomings undoubtedly contribute their mite to the "livening up" of life in Baku in the winter.

Have the city's services learned any lessons from the shortcomings of the last few years and is the city ready to face the changing weather? Regionplus put this question to the relevant departments.

At the press service of the Open Joint-stock Society [OJS] "Azeriyolservice" we were told that the roads for which they are responsible are ready for winter. "We started the preparation work for the winter back in August and September. The relevant order was issued and sent to all the road maintenance and operating services," they said at the press service. In compliance with this order, round-the-clock teams were set up in all these services, which are to deal with any break-downs resulting from natural disasters. Supplies of sand, industrial salt and fuel have been checked and the services have set up round-the-clock shifts. On the whole, at the Administration they assured us that all the roads for which "Azeriyolservice" are responsible are in good order, and there are sufficient staff on hand and the relevant materials and equipment available to deal with any problems that crop up. 

They also assured us at Baku's executive authority that they have prepared for winter in the relevant manner by making snow ploughs ready, ensuring that there are sufficient supplies of sand and salt as well and by also repairing a number of peripheral roads. "It is a general misconception that the same roads are being repaired. Our services pay equal attention to the roads in the centre and those on the periphery. The pavements are also being repaired," it was noted at the city's Administration. They report at the OJS "Azeriyolservice" that the high curb edges correspond to international standards. They are extremely high in order to stop vehicles from driving onto the pavement.

The Traffic Police are also issuing warnings and taking measures to prevent road accidents in bad weather. Naturally, the official view is that leaving your car at home is the best preventive measure. But what are people supposed to do if they live a long way away so that such principle-based advice is unacceptable. First and foremost, you need to make sure your vehicle is in good running order and to put winter tyres on it in plenty of time. The traffic police have also warned that the tyre tread should meet certain standards, namely the thickness should be 1.66mm for ordinary cars, 1mm for lorries and 2 mm for buses and coaches.

At the press service of the OJS "Bakielektrisabaka" they also reported that the townspeople did not need to be afraid of power cuts; the power lines had been repaired, a number of new substations had been built, new power networks had been set up and they should be so reliable that strong winds should not pose any threat to either the city centre or the city's environs. Besides this, the old transformer units are being replaced. In the period from 2006 to the present day 23 100 kv-capacity and 62 35 kv-capacity substations have been built; as a result, the capacity of Baku's power network has been doubled the cables have been replaced by insulated ones. Besides this, the cables have been replaced by separately insulated ones. Unlike the previous ones, these cables are resistant and can stand up to even the harshest of frosts and strongest of winds. The only request they added at "Bakieletriksabaka" was that people should pay their electricity bills on time. Besides this, new equipment has been installed on the network this year, so that, if residents do experience problems with power cuts, they can ring a hotline on 199. The trouble-shooter teams on duty are working round-the-clock and are always ready to deal with these break-downs.

Optimistic forecasts

At "Azeriqaz" they are stressing that the preparations for winter were started in plenty of time. A list of preparation measures consisting of 347 points was issued back in April. More than 30,000 metres of gas pipeline were scheduled for repairs and replacement. "Azeriqaz" has more than 1,700,000 customers and it is noted that extremely serious measures have been taken to avert gas supply problems.

The head of the customer services section of OJS "Azeristiliktachizat", Rafiq Aliyev, has said that all the buildings on the Open Joint Stock Society's books will be heated. He said that throughout this year 264 buildings had been connected to the central heating systems and 37 new boiler-houses had been commissioned. Heating has already been provided to 275 schools, 156 nurseries and 147 medical establishments and other public premises as well. Besides this, R. Aliyev also appealed to the city's residents to check the radiators in their flats beforehand. "Sometimes, because people use alternative sources of heating, we are unable to install central heating and, owing to the inappropriate state of the radiators in one flat, all the people living in that stairwell have to suffer," he said.

Azerbaijan's national water company OJS "Azersu" has also stepped up measures to prevent rain water accumulating on the city's streets. Building and installation work has also been carried out at more than 80 locations in Baku, as well as the drawing up of designs for a drainage system, the fitting of drain covers so that the rain water can run away in all the city's streets and avenues. Major work has been carried out on the capital's water supply system.

Naturally, the municipal services and the relevant structures have assured us that Baku is ready for winter. But we would really like it if the promises did not remain just words and the decisions did not just stay on paper.