All-Russia scientific-practical seminar themed: "Rural roads. Experience, problems, decision search" opened today in Exhibition centre “Kazansky Yarmarka".

In the event took part RT Premier Ildar Khalikov, Head of federal road agency “Rosavtodor” Anatoly Chabunin, RT Minister of transport and road construction Lenar Safin, heads of core ministries and road organizations from 30 RF subjects, heads of RT municipal regions.

RT Premier welcomed participants of the seminar on behalf of Tatarstan President. He noted that it was Tatarstan which initiated the meeting. “We put much emphasis in republic on construction of new objects of road infrastructure. Surely, forthcoming Universiade urges us on this”, - Head of RT government stressed. Immense amount of guests every day arrive in Kazan. That is why, by words of I.Khalikov, it is necessary to construct highways as quickly as possible with minimum discomfort for citizens.

“Universiade does not mean just road-transport infrastructure, but also 30 sport objects, 26 of which have already been constructed. In a week we will commission one more big object – a rowing channel”, - Prime Minster informed. Speaking about theme of the seminar, Head of RT Government said “it had always been important for Tatarstan”. “Tatarstan has always paid special attention to the issue of preserving rural areas. It is a very essential, critical element of preserving national culture and general support of agricultural sector. Food safety, presence of domestic products, possibility to organize support of such a major sector for people are strategic goals for Tatarstan”, - Ildar Khalikov said.

According to Head of federal road agency “Rosavtodor” Anatoly Chabunin rural roads are an important component of road infrastructure. “Such roads almost have no alternative. They give access to our settlements, which implement very important activity on producing foodstuff”, - Anatoly Chabunin said. About 27 percent of the Russian population are villagers, he said. Up to 15 percent of the hay harvest and 30 percent of the grain harvest perish under the wheels of trucks. The country has a total 247 thousand kilometres of local roads which condition does not meet the needs of the population. Over 18.5 thousand kilometres, or 39 percent, do not comply with the standard requirements. “We know that the state of village roads is much more lamentable than the official statistics,” the Rosavtodor chief stated.

A republican long-term targeted program “Development of transport complex for 2011-2015” has now been developed by the decision of RT President Rustam Minnikhanov. The sub-programme “Motorways” stipulates before 2015 connecting 245 settlements with roads of a total length of 409 kilometres, partly at the expense of the Tatarstan budget.

A total of 223 villages have been decided to be connected with hard-surface driveways of 542 kilometres. A total of 2.5-3 billion roubles is planned to be annually allocated, to build roads in Tatarstan.

A travelling (practical) part of the seminar will be held on June 18. Participants are to visit Tyulyachinsky and Sabinsky regions to see the construction sites of rural roads based on using different variants of pavement.