The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $302.38 million loan to modernise the signalling system and digitalise operations at the Baku Metro. The funding forms part of a wider program to expand the metro network.
The loan will allow the Baku Metro to replace its existing signalling system with modern, communications-based train control technology and upgrade its operations control centre. The changes are meant to allow trains to run at shorter intervals during peak hours and reduce operational incidents that could affect passenger safety.
Sunniya Durrani-Jamal, ADB’s country director for Azerbaijan, said the project marks an important step in turning the Baku Metro into an urban transport system fit for future demand. Advanced signalling technology and integrated digital systems will make existing services more reliable, she said.
Under the project, integrated digital systems will be introduced for corporate governance, asset management, cybersecurity, passenger information and crowd management, backed by upgraded data centres and secure network infrastructure. State-owned Baku Metropolitan Closed Joint-Stock Company is expected to use these tools to improve maintenance and decision-making processes and boost energy efficiency.
The project will also strengthen the institutional capacity of Baku Metropolitan CJSC through technical training and staff development, and will include recruitment and career development measures aimed at increasing the share of women in technical positions.
A $2.6 billion expansion program
The signalling project is part of a $2.6 billion Baku Metro expansion program being carried out by the Azerbaijani government. The program includes the construction of 9 stations, 2 depots and 20 kilometers of new tunnels, along with the purchase of an additional 300 metro cars. The aim is to extend the metro’s reach and capacity and ease traffic congestion in Baku and its surrounding areas.
The Baku Metro currently serves 27 stations along roughly 41 kilometers of track. It carried about 220.4 million passengers in 2025.
The signalling and digitalisation project is valued at roughly $515.07 million in total. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank is expected to co-finance it with $79.98 million, while the Azerbaijani government is set to contribute $132.71 million.
