Russia's Putin calls on government to improve roads
17 April 2006
MOSCOW, April 17 (Prime-Tass) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has called on the government to work on improving the state of Russia’s roads, ITAR-TASS reported Monday.
With Russia's proverbial bad state of auto roads and the world's vastest territory, improving roads is a task of leviathan proportions.
At a meeting with Putin, Zhukov focused on road development.
In particular, the 10,000-kilometer road - the world’s longest - that links Moscow, Vladivostok and the Baltic Sea ports, will be completed soon, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov said at a meeting with Putin at the Kremlin.
Private investors are expected to finance the construction of many highways, Zhukov said. The government plans to conclude concession agreements with investors financing the construction of toll roads, Zhukov added.
Speaking on air transportation, Zhukov said that a network of federal airports and international interchange hubs are expected to be built.
Putin also called on the ministers to amend legislation as soon as possible to stop the misuse of land allocated for the construction of roads and other infrastructure.
"It is perfectly evident to us that it is not ordinary people who buy land. If the Transportation Ministry and the Economic Development and Trade Ministry have a common position on this issue, then try to do it (amend the legislation) as soon as possible," Putin said.
At the present time the government is examining a bill on the reservation of land plots for the construction of roads and other federal infrastructure facilities in the future, Economic Development and Trade Minister German Gref said at the meeting with Putin.
The government will discuss transport strategy at one of its meetings in the near future, Putin said.
17 April 2006
MOSCOW, April 17 (Prime-Tass) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has called on the government to work on improving the state of Russia’s roads, ITAR-TASS reported Monday.
With Russia's proverbial bad state of auto roads and the world's vastest territory, improving roads is a task of leviathan proportions.
At a meeting with Putin, Zhukov focused on road development.
In particular, the 10,000-kilometer road - the world’s longest - that links Moscow, Vladivostok and the Baltic Sea ports, will be completed soon, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov said at a meeting with Putin at the Kremlin.
Private investors are expected to finance the construction of many highways, Zhukov said. The government plans to conclude concession agreements with investors financing the construction of toll roads, Zhukov added.
Speaking on air transportation, Zhukov said that a network of federal airports and international interchange hubs are expected to be built.
Putin also called on the ministers to amend legislation as soon as possible to stop the misuse of land allocated for the construction of roads and other infrastructure.
"It is perfectly evident to us that it is not ordinary people who buy land. If the Transportation Ministry and the Economic Development and Trade Ministry have a common position on this issue, then try to do it (amend the legislation) as soon as possible," Putin said.
At the present time the government is examining a bill on the reservation of land plots for the construction of roads and other federal infrastructure facilities in the future, Economic Development and Trade Minister German Gref said at the meeting with Putin.
The government will discuss transport strategy at one of its meetings in the near future, Putin said.