PRESS: Ministry suggests building Moscow–Vladimir highway

MOSCOW, Aug 19 (PRIME) -- The Economic Development Ministry has suggested that a highway to Vladimir should be built from Moscow instead of the Moscow–Kazan road, and the extension, the M7 Moscow–Ufa highway, should be partially reconstructed to reduce costs, Vedomosti business daily reported on Monday citing several sources in the authority.

The government postponed approval of the 539 billion ruble Moscow to Kazan road during a year. The highway is a part of an international transport corridor from Europe to western China, President Vladimir Putin earlier ordered to the road construction be finished.

In 2018, the government included the road into the comprehensive plan for upgrade and development of infrastructure. A final decision should be made within a month, otherwise the project will not be finished until the end of 2024, three federal officials and two people close to state highway operator Russian Highways said.

Construction of a highway from Moscow to Vladimir instead of Kazan will allow for reduction of costs to 279 billion rubles, of which 121 billion rubles will be spent on a new road, four officials said. The information was confirmed by Economic Development Minister Maxim Oreshkin.

The Transport Ministry and Russian Highways insist on a new road to Kazan. The Construction, Housing, and Utilities Ministry also supports the project, a representative of the authority said.

The Finance Ministry suggested that 120 billion rubles should be allocated to reconstruction of the M7 road into a 1B category highway, but according to the estimates of the Economic Development Ministry and the Transport Ministry, the project will cost 400 to 449 billion rubles.

(65.9961 rubles – U.S. $1)

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