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Russian Transportation minister outlines plans to develop

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  • Russian Transportation minister outlines plans to develop

    RIA Novosti, Russia
    Aug 24 2004

    TRANSPORTATION MINISTER OUTLINES PLANS TO DEVELOP INFRASTRUCTURE IN
    RUSSIA'S SOUTH


    SOCHI, August 24 (RIA Novosti) - Transportation Minister Igor Levitin
    outlined plans to develop the infrastructure in southern Russia and
    told about some of the newly-commissioned large infrastructure
    projects as he met with President Vladimir Putin in the Black sea
    port of Sochi Tuesday. Mr. Putin is now in Sochi on vacation.

    According to Mr. Levitin, his ministry has worked out a concept for
    the development of rail, aviation, and motor infrastructures in
    Russia's south, as well as of sea ports. He said that in 2005, as
    much as $8 billion in allocations (the U.S. dollar currently buys
    29.22 rubles) would be distributed among seven port construction
    projects. "Within three years' time, we will be able to mount all the
    bridges that have been under construction for over a decade now," he
    assured.

    As Mr. Levitin pointed out, 30% of the nation's passenger traffic
    falls on southern provinces, but the infrastructure network here is
    not adequately developed throughout. His ministry's new concept is
    aimed at bringing uniformity to the transportation infrastructure of
    Russia's south so that people will have no difficulty getting to
    southern resorts from any part of the country, he said.

    Speaking of motorways, Mr. Levitin said the network was developed
    well enough for freight traffic, but not for passenger traffic. Many
    of the routes run through highland areas and may therefore be unsafe
    for passengers, hence the need for tunnels.

    "We have reoriented funds to the construction of tunnels at [the
    Black Sea resorts] of Krasnaya Polyana and Dzhubga, and this will
    raise safety," he told President Putin.

    Within one year's time, the Transportation Ministry will renovate the
    sea terminal in Sochi and restore sea travel between Russia, Ukraine,
    Armenia, and Georgia, Mr. Levitin said. There is high demand for sea
    lines that would link those countries together, he stressed. "We
    intend to develop an infrastructure for passengers in ports," said
    the minister.

    Mr. Levitin also pointed out that Russian rail transportation was
    becoming increasingly efficient. He said that his ministry would be
    developing the rail infrastructure in parallel with motorways.
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