Azerbaijani president drives resettlement, connectivity forward in Aghdam district UPDATED/PHOTO

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the inauguration of the first phase of Kangarli village in the Aghdam district on May 10, marking a key milestone in the country’s ongoing reconstruction efforts across liberated territories.

Emin Huseynov, the Special Representative of the President in the Aghdam, Fuzuli, and Khojavand districts, provided a detailed briefing to President Aliyev on the progress of development activities in the area. As part of the wide-ranging reconstruction initiatives underway in Aghdam, Kangarli village stands out as a flagship project. Situated six kilometers from the district center, the village's foundation was laid by President Aliyev on October 4, 2022, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

Designed to accommodate 2,544 residents over an expanse exceeding 177 hectares, Kangarli village is planned to include 632 individual homes constructed in two stages. The village has been comprehensively developed to support sustainable living, with fully installed internal roads, electricity, gas, water, and communication infrastructure. It also encompasses economic, educational, social, cultural, and public amenities aimed at fostering employment and community engagement.

As part of his visit, President Aliyev inspected the newly completed multifunctional administrative building designed for local executive authorities. The modern facility consolidates various public services under one roof and features a conference hall and fully equipped offices, ensuring streamlined and efficient governance.

President Aliyev also visited the village's newly built club-community center. The two-story building includes dedicated spaces for dance and other hobby groups, with a hall equipped to host events, celebrations, and youth gatherings, contributing to the village’s cultural and social vitality.

Continuing his tour, President Ilham Aliyev attended the official opening of the Kangarli village secondary school. Minister of Science and Education Emin Amrullayev presented an overview of the educational infrastructure. The school, with a capacity for 484 students and 30 classrooms, is outfitted to meet contemporary academic standards. It includes science laboratories, a computer room, military training classrooms, a library, an assembly hall, a sports hall, and a cafeteria.

Additional amenities include a sports field accessible to both students and villagers after school hours, landscaped play areas, and recreational spaces. Solar panels installed on several non-residential buildings, including the school, underscore the project’s commitment to sustainable energy.

President Aliyev also inaugurated a newly constructed nursery-kindergarten in the village. The facility accommodates 120 children across six groups and features modern learning and recreational environments. A well-equipped playground, and attractively landscaped surroundings ensure a nurturing space for early childhood development.

The President then visited several of the completed individual houses within the village. The first phase of the resettlement project will see 1,279 residents move into 292 newly built homes, varying in size from two to five rooms. A total of 72.5 hectares has been designated for this phase, with provisions for future population growth.

Concluding his visit, President Ilham Aliyev met with some of the new residents of Kangarli village and personally presented them with the keys to their new homes, symbolizing a new beginning for families returning to their ancestral lands.

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On May 10, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev oversaw a series of landmark events in the Aghdam district, underscoring substantial advancements in the region’s post-conflict reconstruction and long-term resettlement initiatives.

The president attended the official opening of the first phase of Kangarli village, one of the newly established settlements designed to accommodate displaced persons returning to their ancestral lands, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

President Aliyev reviewed the modern infrastructure developed in the village, including a multifunctional administrative building for local governance, a community club center, a newly built secondary school, a nursery-kindergarten, and rows of individual residential homes constructed to contemporary standards.

During the visit, the president also met with the first group of resettled families and personally handed over keys to their new homes, underscoring the government’s commitment to restoring life and community in liberated territories.

Continuing his itinerary, President Aliyev inaugurated the Aghdam Railway and Bus Terminal Complex, a flagship project aimed at enhancing regional connectivity and economic revitalization.

The President was briefed by Minister of Digital Development and Transport Rashad Nabiyev and Chairman of Azerbaijan Railways CJSC Rovshan Rustamov on the strategic “Barda–Aghdam Railway Line” initiative. The broader plan envisions seamless rail connections between Barda, Aghdam, and Khankandi, supported by a new terminal complex in Khankandi.

The Aghdam terminal, constructed over an 8-hectare site, is designed to serve between 800 and 1,000 railway passengers and 1,300 to 1,500 bus passengers daily. The complex houses state-of-the-art facilities, including spacious waiting halls, ticket counters, commercial spaces, a library, recreational areas, and eco-friendly infrastructure such as electric vehicle charging stations and bicycle stands.

The day's events culminated in the symbolic departure of the first passenger train along the newly restored Barda–Aghdam railway line, marking a significant leap forward in reestablishing critical transportation links and fostering economic resilience in the once war-torn district.

By Vafa Guliyeva