A resident of Baku, Ilyas Heydarov, says he was surprised when a recent trip ordered through Bolt from the Koroglu metro station to the settlement of Mehdiabad came with an unexpected “road fee.”
The app, he claims, now adds 2 manats to the fare, allegedly for using the Beyukshor–Pirshagi highway – even though the road is not officially tolled.
Heydarov told Qafqazinfo that about a year ago such charges were less transparent:
“Before, the app showed a normal price, and drivers collected an extra 2 manats after the ride. Now the fee appears directly in the app. I travel this route three times a week. It used to cost 8 manats – now it’s 10.”
Bolt’s PR manager, Nigar Kazimova, responded that the issue stems from “a software glitch” and promised it would soon be resolved.
However, users across Baku report that similar “road taxes” or “passage fees” appear in other ride-hailing apps as well. Screenshots circulating on social media show surcharges added to short-distance urban rides, raising questions about whether passengers are being charged for non-existent tolls.
Tests conducted by local reporters revealed inconsistent patterns. A Bolt ride from Baku to Guba, where a genuine toll road exists, included a justified 2-manat charge on a total fare of 105.80 manats. But a route from Baku to Sheki, which has no toll sections, still displayed a 4-manat “road tax.”
Transportation expert Adil Nabiyev condemned the practice:
“It’s unacceptable to collect extra payments for using free roads. In Azerbaijan there’s only one officially toll road – the Baku-Guba highway. Charging passengers within Baku or its suburbs is misleading and violates transparency standards.”
He added that companies should clearly explain any additional fees:
“If they want to include a service or territory charge, fine – but calling it a ‘road tax’ deceives customers.”
For now, Bolt says the issue will be corrected. Yet riders remain skeptical – and the unexplained two-manat mystery fee continues to drive public frustration over the hidden costs of everyday transport in Baku.
