Kalbajar reborn: Azerbaijani President, First Lady lead bold push in infrastructure, housing, economic revival PHOTO / Updated

President of the Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva continued their working visit to the Kalbajar district on August 21, where they inspected progress on key infrastructure and urban development projects that play a vital role in the reconstruction and revitalization of the region.

As part of their visit, the President and First Lady reviewed ongoing construction work on the Toganali-Kalbajar-Istisu highway, one of the most significant infrastructure undertakings in the Karabakh and East Zangazur economic regions, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

The president also conducted the technical opening of the Murovdagh tunnel, situated at the 13.5th kilometre of the highway. Spanning 11.7 kilometres in length, the tunnel is a remarkable engineering achievement and ranks among the longest road tunnels in the world—18th globally, 5th in Europe, and 1st among CIS countries.

Chairman of the Board of the State Agency of Azerbaijan Automobile Roads, Saleh Mammadov, briefed President Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva on the completed and ongoing phases of the project. Notably, the President and First Lady had attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the same highway back in August 2021.

Implemented under President Aliyev’s direct instructions, the 82-kilometre-long highway consists of a 56-kilometre section from Toganali to Kalbajar and a 26-kilometre stretch from Kalbajar to the Istisu resort. With elevations rising from 1,700 to 3,250 metres, the most challenging portion passes through the Murovdagh mountain range, necessitating the construction of the tunnel to ensure year-round accessibility. The Murovdagh tunnel will feature four lanes, and excavation and 38 cross-passages have already been completed. Additionally, four other tunnels totaling 2,636 metres are under construction, with major works largely finalized. Overall, the highway project is 87 percent complete.

The route begins in the village of Toganali in Goygol district, traverses the liberated city of Kalbajar, and extends to the iconic Istisu resort area, facilitating secure and efficient connectivity throughout the region while promoting economic activity in agriculture and tourism.

Following the inspection of infrastructure works, President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva took part in the groundbreaking ceremony for the 4th residential complex in Kalbajar city.

President’s Special Representative in the Kalbajar district, Bashir Hajiyev, provided a detailed overview of the residential project. Spanning nearly 10 hectares, the complex is designed to house 807 families across 26 four-story buildings, offering a mix of one-, two-, three-, and four-room apartments. The development will also feature essential amenities, including household and commercial spaces on the ground floors, as well as sports grounds, bicycle paths, children’s playgrounds, recreational areas, gazebos, and extensive green spaces.

In continuation of the day’s engagements, President Ilham Aliyev laid the foundation stone for Kalbajar City Park, a major public space designed in accordance with the city’s master plan. Covering approximately 11 hectares, including 9 hectares of green zones, the new park will serve as a central hub for community, cultural, and recreational activities. Key features will include zones for public events, wellness and sports areas, entertainment spaces for children, and adventure attractions. The park will also include a rail sled track, restaurants, cafés, an amphitheater, and essential public infrastructure such as an above-ground parking lot.

During the visit, President Aliyev also officially inaugurated the “Balland – Kalbajar Honey, Bee, and Beekeeping Products Store.”

The newly opened store is dedicated to showcasing and selling a wide range of high-quality natural products, including honey, propolis, royal jelly, pollen, beeswax, and other derivatives of beekeeping. The initiative is part of a broader strategy to promote Kalbajar’s rich apicultural heritage, elevate the branding of local products, and expand their reach into international markets under the “Made in Azerbaijan” label. Plans are also underway to launch an online platform to boost digital sales.

The store not only serves as a commercial outlet but also as a cultural and promotional hub that underscores the region’s deep-rooted tradition in beekeeping. Among the most prominent contributors to this tradition is the Mustafayev family, renowned for over four decades of dedication to the craft. Blending time-honored practices with modern techniques, the family maintains approximately 400 bee colonies and operates one of Azerbaijan’s most exemplary family-owned beekeeping enterprises.

A shining example of resilience and revival, Sabir Mustafayev and his family returned to Kalbajar following the Patriotic War to restore their ancestral farm. The honey produced on their land is harvested from wildflowers in Kalbajar’s remote highland pastures, contributing to its unique purity and quality. President Aliyev previously visited the Mustafayev farm in 2021, recognizing its significance in the local economy and cultural identity. Following the inauguration ceremony, the President engaged in a cordial conversation with Sabir Mustafayev, further underlining the importance of local entrepreneurship in national development.

Continuing his visit, President Ilham Aliyev also presided over the groundbreaking ceremony for Kalbajar’s third residential complex. Spanning an area of 7.6 hectares, the ambitious project will comprise 29 residential buildings ranging from four to five stories in height. Once completed, the complex will provide 476 apartments, including 8 one-room, 176 two-room, 169 three-room, and 123 four-room units.

The residential development is designed with a strong emphasis on modern urban planning and quality of life. Comprehensive infrastructure will support the daily needs of resettled families, featuring household and commercial facilities, a football field, landscaped recreational spaces, gazebos, children’s playgrounds, bicycle lanes, and above-ground parking areas. Extensive landscaping and greening efforts are also planned to enhance the living environment.

President lham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva also participated in the opening ceremony of the Ashagi Vang, Nadirkhanli, and Chaykand small hydropower plants operated by AzerEnerji OJSC in the village of Vang, Kalbajar district.

AzerEnerji Chairman Baba Rzayev briefed the President and the First Lady about the stations.

In line with President Ilham Aliyev’s instructions to transform the Karabakh and East Zangazur economic regions into a “green energy” zone, the 8.6 MW Ashagi Vang and 8.8 MW Nadirkhanli small hydroelectric power plants have been constructed in Kalbajar district. To supply water to these plants, a main intake structure was built at the confluence of the Lev River with the Tartar River, as well as a second intake on the Tutqu River where it joins the Tartar. For these cascade hydroelectric plants, a total of 9,300 meters of derivation pipelines were laid in challenging terrain. To prevent fish from entering the pipelines and to preserve the river ecosystem, the intake structures were equipped with special hydrotechnical installations that comply with all ecological standards. The hydro turbines installed at both stations ensure that no harmful substances mix with the water and that the water is returned downstream without any changes to its quality indicators.

Equipped with modern technology, the stations have been integrated into the country’s centralized SCADA system. The clean, eco-friendly energy generated here will supply electricity to approximately 25,000 people. It is planned that the Ashagi Vang and Nadirkhanli stations will generate 48 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. This will save 12.5 million cubic meters of natural gas per year and prevent the release of 23,000 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Eight residents of Kalbajar district have been employed at the stations.

The Chaykend Small Hydroelectric Power Plant has a capacity of 5 MW. It is the eleventh “green energy” facility commissioned by AzerEnerji in Kalbajar. The plant is supplied with water via an 8,500-meter derivation pipeline from a newly built intake on one of the largest rivers in the country, the Tartar River. The station, which will provide clean, eco-friendly energy for approximately 7,000 people, is equipped with “environmentally friendly technologies.” Along with digital switching, smart management, operational monitoring, and analysis, remote control from Baku will also be possible. For integration into the national energy system, a 5-kilometer, 10 kV transmission line has been built. Integrated into the centralized SCADA system, the station is expected to produce 15 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, saving 3.2 million cubic meters of natural gas and preventing 6,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Four local residents have been employed here.

14:23

President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva marked the opening of three small hydropower plants in Kalbajar as part of ongoing reconstruction efforts in the country’s retaken territories.

The Ashagi Vang, Nadirkhanli and Chaykend plants, located in the village of Vang and operated by state energy company AzerEnerji, are among a series of renewable energy projects aimed at boosting local power supply, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

Later in the day, the president and first lady travelled to Kolatag village in the Aghdara district, where they inspected the restoration of private homes and infrastructure.

12:20

On August 21, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva visited Kalbajar’s first residential complex, where they reviewed the living conditions in both individual and multi-storey buildings and met with the residents who have moved in.

The head of state then presented the apartment keys to the residents, Caliber.Az reports, citing the President’s official website.

09:59

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva have inspected the construction of the Toganali-Kalbajar-Istisu highway, a strategic transport route in western Azerbaijan.

During the visit, President Aliyev oversaw the technical opening of the Murovdag tunnel, currently under construction at the 13.5-kilometre point of the highway, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

The tunnel, which will stretch for 11.7 kilometres, is expected to significantly improve connectivity across the region once completed.

In addition, the presidential couple took part in the foundation-laying ceremony for Kalbajar’s fourth residential complex, with Ilham Aliyev laying a foundation stone for the Kalbajar city park.

They also attended the inauguration of the "Balland – Kalbajar honey, bee, and beekeeping products store."

Furthermore, Ilham Aliyev laid the foundation stone for the third residential complex in the city of Kalbajar.

By Aghakazim Guliyev