Vladimir Putin Conducted a Meeting of the State Council at the Novosibirsk Expo Centre International Exhibition Complex

President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin arrived in Novosibirsk with a working visit. Before starting the session of the State Council Presidium Vladimir Putin participated in the official ceremony of opening the new automobile bridge over the Ob River.

‘Novosibirsk needed a third bridge long ago. People needed it badly. From now on, Novosibirsk will start developing. This is a correct and a very well-timed event for the economy of the city. House construction will be developing more actively now. People will also have an additional motorway to ‘Tolmachevo’ Airport. In general, this bridge is very important for the development of infrastructure in Siberia. You did a really huge and good work. Thank you very much!’ said Vladimir Putin during his address to the bridge buildersThen the President of the Russian Federation attended the exhibition of achievements and modern technological solutions in the sphere of road construction industry, which was opened at the Novosibirsk Expo Centre International Exhibition Complex on October 7. After looking through the expositions available Vladimir Putin opened the session of the State Council Presidium devoted to the task of improving the network of automobile roads aimed at complex development of the territory of Russia.

At the beginning of his speech the President emphasized the importance of developing and improving automobile roads for the growth of the entire national economy, competitiveness of businesses, complex regional development, and successful fulfillment of nearly all social tasks.   

‘Constant attention has been recently paid to the development of road industry on federal, regional, and municipal levels. We raised this subject three times during the sessions of the State Council. We also touched upon it when considering other issues related to land, forest management, housing and utility sector, healthcare, education, business activities. All this demonstrates the paramount importance of motorways, their complex influence on the development of other spheres’, noted Vladimir Putin.According to the President, many significant positive changes occurred in road industry over the last few years. For example, the law on automobile roads and road-constructing activities was adopted, rules and regulations for attracting extra-budgetary investments into road construction industry were formed. Federal, regional, and municipal funds were created; these funds allowed for doubling the financial resources of the industry, which consequently led to increasing the volume of construction, reconstruction and repair of roads on all levels.

However, despite the obvious achievements and positive dynamics seen in the road sector, this sphere still remains problematic.     

Vladimir Putin also noted that adjusting the price and quality of road structures is one of the primary tasks.

‘The state invests considerable financial resources into the construction and reconstruction of roads but these investments have little effect at times. Even recently constructed automobile roads often don’t comply with the required specifications, they wear out quickly, they are unable to endure modern traffic load, and so on. We need to take measures aimed at increasing the fairness and accuracy of road construction cost estimate documentation. Many methods used have definitely become obsolete. As a result, the so-called ‘black holes’ where the allocated money disappear still remain. Year by year the same roads are being repaired instead of gradually increasing the volume of high-quality road construction’, the President said.Vladimir Putin also pointed out several other problems that need to be solved immediately, including prolonging the service life of so-called road clothing. Specialists currently use obsolete standards during construction work. With all this said, Russia has all the necessary modern technologies and materials but for certain bureaucratic reasons their use in construction operation is difficult at best, or usually simply impossible. ‘That is strange, really strange: we have technologies, we have materials but we still can’t use them due to bureaucratic procedures. That’s surprising, this kind of narrow-mindedness’, noted Vladimir Putin. Besides, in the President’s opinion, regulation of prices for inert road construction materials – gravel, sand, ground stone - must be paid special attention to. This also concerns allocation of land for the construction of automobile roads, and the feasibility of its reacquisition, the development of high-speed motorways, road safety, and the durability of roads.    

In conclusion, Vladimir Vladimirovich thanked all the participants of the meeting for constructive professional dialogue and expressed his hope for an early solution to all the problems mentioned during the discussion. He also drew the attention of his colleagues to the importance ofincreasing the efficiency of using the available financial resources invested into the road sphere.

According to the information available at kremlin.ru