Losses Even "Underground": What’s Happening in the Metro

During a press conference on March 5, the acting director of the Metro, Gevorg Avetisyan, revealed that in 2020, the passenger numbers for the subway had decreased by 50% compared to 2019, with 10 million fewer passengers. While 21 million passengers used the metro in 2019, only 11 million utilized the service in 2020, according to Hraparak.am.

In the new Armenia, a catastrophic decline is being recorded across all sectors without exception. Despite increasing traffic jams in the capital, metro usage has not seen a significant rise but instead has dramatically decreased. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had previously promised particular attention and growth for the metro.

In 2012, MP Nikol Pashinyan from the ANC faction opposed credit agreements with European investment and reconstruction banks, stating that "the Metro has been systematically killed; this strategic facility, which constitutes a national wealth, is not generating profit."

Then, during the 2017 Yerevan elections, as the candidate for mayor from the Yelk alliance, he announced, "One of the provisions of the Yelk alliance's electoral program is to add at least one metro station in Yerevan by 2022."

During his campaign, he reminded that the current mayor of Yerevan, Taron Margaryan, and representatives of the Republican Party considered the promise of launching the Ajapnyak station unrealistic, whereas he stated: "All communication tunnels and the passenger tunnel are prepared from Friendship Metro to the Hrazdan Gorge. In the Ajapnyak area, all communication tunnels are ready. Essentially, only the construction of the passenger tunnel and the station remains."

He vividly described what needed to be done: "This route can operate as follows: reach Shiraz Street, then enter Artashisyan Street, then connect to the bridge built on the shore of Lake Yerevan, join the street along Ashtarak Avenue. What is happening is that they want to construct another bridge one kilometer below the existing bridge. I believe this is absolutely inappropriate, especially since its construction is planned over one of the most significant archaeological sites in Yerevan, the Red Hill. I think that funds for this tunnel could be invested here, and this bridge could be built over the Hrazdan River, creating a metro bridge between Ajapnyak and Arabkir."

He concluded one of his pre-election false promises by stating, "This is my vision, and I believe it is a highly feasible project." He described solutions to the capital’s transport problems as follows: "When we reduce the number of minibuses, eliminate the existence of bus and trolleybus routes that duplicate metro routes, and increase subway passenger traffic, this will completely change the traffic and congestion situation in the city." None of these promises have come even close to being realized.

Note: The acting director of the Metro has also been noted for his particular fondness for celebrations.