A board session of the Tatarstan ministry of transport and road facilities was held at the exhibition centre “Kazansky Yarmarka” on October 26 prior to the Day of Automobilist and celebration of 10th anniversary of the ministry.

The session was held in format of video conference with participation of Tatarstan Prime Minister Ildar Khalikov, Russian Deputy minister of transport Oleg Belozyorov and Deputy chairman of transport committee of RF State Duma Foat Komarov.

Ildar Khalikov thanked Oleg Belozyorov for rendered help in the process of constructing road objects in Tatarstan capital for Universiade 2013 and congratulated the ministry’s employees on the anniversary.

“The past 10 years were uneasy for Tatarstan transport ministry. Though new projects have been efficiently realized and a plenty of technological innovations adopted”, he said.

Tatarstan Premier marked for the last 10 years road network in Republic has expanded by 14,5 %, 500 km roads have been constructed. “Implementation of new technologies helps realizing new projects in a relatively short time”, he highlighted.

Oleg Belozyorov joined in congratulations saying about promising future of the Ministry. “The Ministry of transport and road facilities is one of the best in our country”, he stated speaking about tasks in prospect as well.

According to Oleg Belozyorov currently availability of transport for citizens should be a priority for us. “These words seem to be a simple phrase but they imply a lot of activities including funding of roads construction, development of local airlines, etc”, he said.

He informed about the decision to subsidize leasing rates, which means allocation of 1 bln 900 mln roubles to provide 50 seats for aircrafts. Mr Belozyorov believes this program can be successfully implemented in Tatarstan.

Then Tatarstan Minister of transport Lenar Safin told about prospects and areas of medium-term and long-term period of the ministry’s activity. He believes main efforts should be directed to modernization of the river port. In particular, 50 % of vessels should be renewed. Moreover, the construction of stationary wharfs at all republican water ways for year-round service is needed and the number of air-cushion crafts is to be increased.

For sure, the above mentioned measures cannot be realized without the support of federal centre, Lenar Safin highlighted. “We have to consider a possible development of a federal target program aimed at renewal of Russian river fleet”, he said.

The Tatarstan transport minister touched upon the issue of aviation security, state of aircraft fleet and ground infrastructure of airports, and the level of staff training. “We need a considerable renewal of aircraft fleet in all Tatarstan companies, fundamental changes in financial and economic activity, improvement of services, and development of aircraft route network”, he emphasized.

Lenar Safin informed modernization of the Kazan airport is planned till 2025. Commissioning of new terminal, modernization of old terminals and reconstruction of the runway, organization of the system of inter-modal transportations from the airport to railway station Kazan are planned to be realized by 2013.

Aviation infrastructure of the Transkama region will be developing as well. Much emphasis will be put on public transport, the minister added.

As for the railway transport the priority task is organization of high-speed traffic. JSC RZHD (Russian railways) has worked out a conception to connect cities hosting matches of World football championship 2018. Development of the railway infrastructure includes reconstruction and modernization of stations and more than 40 passenger platforms. These plans are meant to be realized by 2020.

The construction of rural motor roads will be continued as well to promote development of agro-industrial complex and raise living standards of the villagers, Lenar Safin informed.

Upon finishing the session the minister of transport granted awards to distinguished employees of the industry.