Avinyan proposes solutions to relieve traffic congestion in Yerevan
Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan stated that the rapid increase in the number of passenger cars in the capital requires long-term and coordinated solutions. He spoke about this during the session of the Government of the Republic of Armenia held on January 29.
The Municipality plans to improve traffic management through smart traffic lights controlled by artificial intelligence. According to preliminary estimates, their implementation will be completed within approximately one to one and a half years.
The next step will be the acquisition of 250 new 18-meter-long buses, which will reduce the load on public transport and allow for effective strategic planning. Avinyan also noted plans to construct the Ajapnyak metro station, which is expected to increase the number of metro users by around 22 percent. It should be noted that during its December session, the government decided to withdraw the 300,000 dollars allocated for the construction of the Ajapnyak metro and use it to cover other expenses.
He emphasized that restrictions on passenger cars will only be applied once the complete strategy for surface transport is implemented. The production of a new batch of trolleybuses is underway, and they are expected to arrive in the capital in the first half of this year.
RA Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Khachatryan added that the inter-agency commission created to regulate the problem of traffic jams has already compiled a preliminary list of actions, which will be sent to the Municipality during the coming week. According to Khachatryan, the problem is particularly linked to the increase in people’s incomes and the growing use of private vehicles.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan noted that the issue of traffic jams in the capital will persist; however, this process will also contribute to infrastructure development in the provinces, as some citizens are beginning to purchase apartments in the suburbs of the capital and in regions where congestion is not observed.
President of the National Assembly Alen Simonyan announced that a legislative package is being developed to regulate air pollution and traffic congestion in the capital, the details of which are not being publicized at this time.