In the 20-30s of the 20th century, the rapid development of the oil industry in Baku, the construction and commissioning of new industrial facilities, led to a sharp increase in the influx of population into the city. This caused serious problems in the field of transport in the capital of Azerbaijan. The introduction of the tram in Baku in 1924, the commuter electric train in 1926, the bus in 1932, and the trolleybus in 1941 significantly eliminated difficulties in the field of passenger transportation.

The idea of building a metro in Baku was proposed in the 30s of the 20th century and was included in the master plan for the reconstruction of the city of Baku. However, due to the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War, the construction of the metro was postponed.

The decision of the USSR leadership to begin construction of the metro in Baku was made in 1948. After completion of geological exploration work in April 1949, the foundation for construction was laid. In the same year, the Baku branch of the State Design and Research Institute for the Construction of Metro and Transport Facilities (Metrogiprotrans) was created.  The “Baku Metro Project” was developed by this institute. In 1951, after approval of the technical design of the first launch area of the first stage, about 10 km long, construction work began. At the first stage, mine towers and adjacent drilling sites were created, sanitary complexes and living quarters for builders were built. After 2 years, it was decided to stop drilling operations in difficult hydrogeological conditions. After the death of I. Stalin, N.S. Khrushchev, who became the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, considered the metro to be a very expensive luxury and wasteful for Baku. By his order, construction was frozen, and some of the drilling sites failed after about 7 years. In 1960, during the visit of the Secretary General to Baku in connection with the events related to the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the establishment of Soviet power in Azerbaijan, the republican leadership was able to convince him of the importance of resuming the construction of the metro.

Finally, on November 6, 1967, consisting of 5 stations, a 2 km long metro line was put into operation - “Baku Soveti” (Baksovet) (now “Icherisheher”), “Sahil” (Shore), “April 28” (now “May 28”), "Ganjlik" (Youth) and "Narimanov". On February 22, 1968, three months after ensuring regular traffic between these stations, three of which were deep, the first train moved along the “May 28’ – “Khatai” line. Thus, the “28 May” station has become a transfer station for passengers traveling to the “Nariman Narimanov” and “Khatai” stations, as well as for those traveling in the opposite direction.

The subsequent period of development of the Baku Metro is associated with the name of the Great Leader Heydar Aliyev. In the first days of his leadership of the republic, thanks to his attention and care, the Baku metro began its development.

“Ulduz” (Star) became the first station in which National Leader Heydar Aliyev participated in the opening. Heydar Aliyev, who greeted the residents of Baku who gathered at the rally on the occasion of the commissioning of the station on April 17, 1970, highly appreciated the work of the builders, expressed gratitude to them and cut the red ribbon of the seventh station.

Construction work has reached an unprecedented level. The underground roads of Baku were extended from the area called the Montin village (territory of the Narimanov district) to the “8th kilometer” village. On November 6, 1972, the day when the Baku metro celebrated its 5th anniversary, metro builders presented 3 more stations to Baku residents. At a meeting held on the occasion of the opening of the “Mashadi Azizbekov” (now Koroglu), “Aurora” (now Gara Garayev), “Neftchilyar” (Oil workers) stations, the head of the “Bakimetrotunneltikinti” department A. Abdurrahimov reported on the work done and the completion of construction before the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev.  After this, the head of the republic cut the red ribbon stretched in front of the entrance to the “Neftchilyar” station.

Thanks to the care and attention of the Great Leader, the number of Baku metro stations continued to increase. With his blessing, “Nizami” stations began operating in 1976, and “Bakmil” in 1979. In 1982, even after Heydar Aliyev was appointed to a high government position in Moscow - First Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, the construction of the metro in Baku did not go without his attention and care.

The concern for the development of Baku underground roads, National Leader Heydar Aliyev, did not stop during the years of his work in Moscow, which was reflected in such stations as “Elmlyar Akademiyasi” (Academy of Sciences), “Inshaatchilar” (Builders), “20 January”, “Memar Ajami” (Architect Ajami) 1985, “Khalglar Dostlugu” (Friendship of Peoples) and “Ahmedli” in 1989. And in 1993, the “Jafar Jabbarli” station was put into operation. In 2002, with the connection of the “Azi Aslanov” station to the underground transport conveyor, the length of the Baku Metro lines reached 31.5 kilometers, of which 22.3 kilometers were built thanks to the leadership and attention of the Great Leader.

President Ilham Aliyev, who was elected in 2003 and won the trust of the people, pays special attention to the construction of the metro. Ilham Aliyev always appreciates the hard and honorable work of the metro workers. A striking manifestation of this attention and care was the Decree of the Head of State of October 28, 2006 on the celebration of November 6 as a professional holiday for metro workers.

Since 2006, there have been positive changes in the construction of new metro lines. Unfinished construction work on the northern territory has intensified. On October 9, 2008, “Nasimi” station was connected to an underground passenger conveyor. A year later, on December 30, 2009, the second exit of the “Azadlig prospekti” (Freedom Avenue) station and the “28 May” station were commissioned. On June 29, 2011, the “Darnagul” station in the 7th microdistrict of Baku joined the process of passenger transportation. Thus, the length of the city’s underground roads reached 34.63 km.

On December 28, 2015, the opening of the second exit of the “Elmlyar Akademiyasi” station took place with the participation of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. On April 19, 2016, the Purple Line stations “Bus Station” and “Memar Ajami”, included in the first priority direction of the long-term development plan of the Baku Metro, were put into operation for passengers.

On May 29, 2021, with the participation of President Ilham Aliyev, the “8 Noyabr” (November 8) station was put into operation, and on December 23, 2022, the “Khojasan” station and the “Khojasan” electric depot were commissioned. At the same time, the length of the metro lines was 40.7 kilometers, and the number of stations on 3 lines was increased to 27.

Currently, construction work continues in accordance with the conceptual program for the development of the Baku Metro. According to the State Program, the total length of underground roads in our capital will be 119.1 km, and the number of stations will reach 76.

Recommended literature:

1. XXI əsrin Bakı metropoliteni / red. heyəti: T. M. Əhmədov [et al.]. - Bakı : n. y., 2012. - 608 s.
2. Heydər Əliyev və Bakı metropoliteni = Heydar Aliyev and Baku metro = Гейдар Алиев и Бакинский метрополитен / tərt.-müəl. T. M. Əhmədov ; red.: Ə. Babazadə [et al.]. - Bakı : n. y., 2007. - 198 s.
3. Yeraltı səltənət /Tərtibçi T.Muxtarova; Red. E.Fərruxzadə. - Bakı: Gənclik, 1990. - 64 s.
4. Бабаева, Елена Василевна. Бакинский метрополитен /Е. В. Бабаева, А. С. Казиев ; [ред. Т. Рашевская ; худож. С. Шатиков]. - Баку: Азернешр, 1979. – 78 с.