Rustam Minnikhanov gives a number of instructions for the further development of the transport industry at a summing up meeting of Tatarstan Ministry of Transport and Roads

On February 3, at a summing up meeting of Tatarstan Ministry of Transport and Roads held at the Kazan EXPO Exhibition Centre, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Marat Khusnullin, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov and representatives of federal structures discussed the issue of modernization of road and transport infrastructure, which is one of the factors of dynamic development of Tatarstan and said that the quality of roads affects the safe and comfortable movement of residents and guests of the republic, as well as the reliability and timeliness of cargo delivery.

Tatarstan Minister of Transport and Roads Farit Khanifov made a keynote report.

During the meeting, Minnikhanov said that with the support of the country’s leadership, major socially significant projects are being implemented in the region, including the construction of roads M-12 «Moscow - Nizhny Novgorod - Kazan» with a bridge across the Volga, as well as M-7 with a bypass of Nizhnekamsk and Naberezhnye Chelny continuing the route «Kazan – Yekaterinburg”.

One of the tasks of the regional ministry is to synchronize and coordinate this work with the federal ministries and departments. New routes give Tatarstan new opportunities due to the growth of freight turnover, tourist flow, labor mobility.

At the same time, one of the tasks of the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Tatarstan is to synchronize and coordinate this work together with federal ministries and departments. New routes give Tatarstan new opportunities due to the growth of cargo turnover, tourist flow and labor mobility.

He also said that it is necessary to jointly consider the issue of attracting an infrastructure loan mechanism for the implementation of large infrastructure projects in the city of Kazan (the reconstruction of the Gorky highway, the construction of the Voznesensky Road, the understudy of the Gorky Highway and the Great Kazan Ring). Development plans of territories and agglomerations should be harmonized.

Tatarstan President instructed the Ministry of Transport of Tatarstan and the regional Ministry of Finance to prepare proposals to address the problems with the lack of tourist buses and to work more actively on the improvement of passenger transport.

He urged the heads of municipalities to pay special attention to the quality of public transport: to make the rural transport network convenient and to develop transport models in all municipalities.

Another important area is rail transport. The Kuibyshev railway transports the main volume of cargo in Tatarstan. The Ministry of Transport, together with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and Russian Railways, should consider the possibility of developing the railway infrastructure based on the prospective growth of freight turnover.

Speaking about the development of air transport, Minnikhanov said that today a master plan for the development of Kazan International Airport until 2050 has already been developed. He emphasized that the Kazan airport should become a regional transport hub linking the Volga Federal District with the Middle East and the CIS. Opening of the country’s first bonded warehouse together with the Russian Post Office provides new opportunities for the airport, Tatarstan President said.

The key direction in the development of the transport industry is the introduction of digital technologies. They should be applied throughout the life cycle in the road sector, he said.

At the end of the meeting, Rustam Minnikhanov and Marat Khusnullin answered questions from media representatives.