Meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon,

This is what I wanted to ask you to begin with. You have a very large scope of work. First, how is the Infrastructure for Life project progressing? How is it unfolding? And, of course, I would like to hear about road construction.

Please.

Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin Khusnullin MaratDeputy Prime Minister of the Government of the Russian Federation : Mr President, this year, as per your instruction, we launched the Infrastructure for Life national project. It is important to note that, together with the governors, we promptly refined it, reorienting our focus from previous national projects.

Based on the results of the previous periods, all planned targets are being met. The central element of our national project has been the completion of housing. The groundwork we laid earlier, over the past few years, allows us to state with confidence that we will build more than 100 million square metres of housing, even though we are currently slightly behind last year's pace. This is a positive indicator, and millions of families will see their living conditions improved.

The next point. We have essentially built the entire supporting housing infrastructure: utilities, social facilities, and transport. Today, we see that, despite everything, the urban development potential of these territories is growing. We have received more urban planning solutions than last year. The volume of housing under construction remains fairly stable. We have a very positive result: non-residential real estate development has increased by 17 percent - this includes factories, hotels, and tourism infrastructure. So, in principle, our position here is also strong.

We estimate that, as a result, the quality of life will improve by 30 percent in 2,160 core communities, for which we have signed agreements with each governor, outlining what will be delivered by 2030 and 2036. Overall, 75 percent of our country's population resides in these communities.

We continue to ensure transport accessibility, and much remains to be done regarding road infrastructure. This year, we are exceeding last year's pace in road construction and repairs by 21 percent, which guarantees the fulfilment of all annual road construction plans. I would like to note that we are engaged in both routine road maintenance and the continuation of all our major infrastructure projects.

Mr President, you are well aware of the key projects. This year, we opened the Dyurtyuli - Achit section, the final segment of the route from St Petersburg to Yekaterinburg. Some 7,000 people use it daily, making it a highly sought-after route. In the first three months, 6,000 to 7,000 vehicles used it consistently, including 2,500 lorries. This has a significant, positive impact on logistics.

We are continuing work on the Rossiya motorway from St Petersburg to Vladivostok - expanding it section by section where necessary. Work is underway on the North - South corridor, and we are progressing with the Azov Ring. This year, we reached Mariupol and began construction of the Mariupol bypass. By the way, very good progress has already been made, and we are expanding sections to ensure a full-fledged four-lane road along the Azov Ring.

Vladimir Putin: Does the Mariupol bypass run from the north?

Marat Khusnullin: Yes, we are bypassing Mariupol from the north, heading south. It is a completely new road. I was there recently, and the work is in full swing.

To be continued.