Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin delivered a report on the main topic of the meeting: road construction. Minister of Construction, Housing and Utilities Irek Fayzullin reported on the start of the heating season and the country's utilities readiness for the coming winter; Minister for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic Alexei Chekunkov briefed the meeting on the progress of supplying essential goods to Russia's northern territories; Minister of Agriculture Oksana Lut gave details on this year's harvesting campaign and efforts to ensure Russia's food security.
The meeting was held on the eve of Road Workers’ Day and Motor and City Passenger Transport Workers’ Day.
During the meeting, Vladimir Putin took part in the ceremony for launching several road infrastructure facilities across the country. In the Republic of Karelia, a section of the A-215 motorway connecting the region with the Leningrad and Vologda regions was reopened after major repairs. In the Republic of Tatarstan, a bypass road around Sokury – the main exit from Kazan to the M-12 motorway – was inaugurated. In the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area, the southern bypass around Surgut, including a bridge across the Ob River, was officially opened.
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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Colleagues, good afternoon,
We are meeting ahead of two professional holidays in the transport industry: Road Workers’ Day and Motor and City Passenger Transport Workers’ Day.
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate everyone working in these important sectors. Thank you for your responsible attitude, professionalism, and dedication. Special words of gratitude – and we always highlight this on such occasions – go to the veteran workers of the road and motor transport industry.
The quality of life for millions of people, the development of trade and logistics, tourism, industry, businesses, our cities and communities, and rural areas – in short, the entire country – directly depend on reliable and uninterrupted transportation.
I would like to note that motor transport ranks first in terms of freight volume, and its share continues to grow. This has been made possible, in particular, by the accelerated pace of road infrastructure upgrading in recent years. This is a trend that must definitely be maintained.
Roads are not only vital for transport and logistics but also play a major role in the growth of automobile tourism which is becoming increasingly popular thanks to the development of high-speed motorways such as the M-4, M-12, and M-11 Neva. It is therefore essential that all planned road construction projects be completed.
By 2030, at least 85 percent of federal motorways and roads in major urban areas, as well as roads forming Russia’s backbone network, must meet established standards. At least 60 percent of regional motorways must comply with requirements and standards.
I expect the Government, as well as municipal and regional authorities, road construction and transport companies, relevant research organisations to continue working consistently and in coordination to upgrade the road system, develop international transport routes, improve passenger traffic, and more actively introduce state-of-the-art IT solutions and high environmental standards.
Let me reiterate: all these measures are vital for the sustainable development of the regions and the entire country, and for achieving our key objective – improvement in living standards.
Today, we are taking another step in this major, comprehensive undertaking by opening a number of new road infrastructure facilities.
These include a section of the A-215 motorway in the Republic of Karelia, the Sokury bypass in the Republic of Tatarstan, and the southern bypass around Surgut with a bridge across the Ob River in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area. I congratulate everyone on these important achievements.
Before giving the floor to our colleagues from the regions, I would like to ask Mr Khusnullin to report on the measures being implemented to develop the country’s road infrastructure. After that, we will get down to our regular agenda.
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