Results of transport service organization during Universiade summarized in Kazan

On August 24 results of transport service organization during the 27th World Summer Universiade 2013 were summarized at an expanded meeting of Tatarstan Ministry of Transport and Roads. Tatarstan Prime Minister Ildar Khalikov and Russian Minister of Transport Maksin Sokolov took part in the meeting.

In his speech Chairman of Tatarstan Government Ildar Khalikov noted that the Universiade, the largest sports event in the history of the USSR and Russia, was organized at the highest level.

He reminded, that 11778 athletes from 160 countries took part in the Games, 351 sets of medals were awarded in 27 sports. More than 150 thousand guests came to Kazan during Universiade, about 800 thousand spectators watched the competitions. 19970 volunteers from 37 Russian regions and 38 countries were involved in the Games.

“A great amount of work was done within the framework of preparation and holding of the Universiade,” Ildar Khalikov noted.

Head of Tatarstan Government also reminded that 36 new sports venues were built for the Universiade. A large amount of work on reconstruction of existing objects and construction of new transport infrastructure objects was done in close cooperation with Russian Ministry of Transport.

By and large, 64 transport infrastructure objects were built and commissioned with 83.4 bln roubles including 12 bln roubles from the federal budget allocated for this purpose. Ildar Khalikov thanked Russian Ministry of Transport and personally Maksim Sokolov for support.

“We set high standards and rates for development of the city and region during preparation for the Universiade. Companies providing transport services should keep to the set rate,” Ildar Khalikov said.

According to Tatarstan Prime Minister, it is necessary to further improve the quality of air transportation services and broaden flight geography. At the same time, Ildar Khalikov pointed out some issues of concern in the regional transport industry. “Unfortunately, we did not manage to provide high quality river transportation services. Ministry of Transportation and Roads should take efficient measures to completely change the current situation,” Ildar Khalikov said.

According to Ildar Khalikov, the organization of transport services for guests and participants of the Universiade was appreciated by Russian President Vladimir Putin and foreign colleagues.

“Thank you for your hard and effective work for providing comfortable conditions during the Universiade,” Ildar Khalikov said addressing transport companies.
Ildar Khalikov presented a number of awards of the Republic of Tatarstan to the workers of the transport industry. Tatartsan Prime Minister presented a medal of the Republic of Tatarstan “For Valorous Labour” to Russian Minister of Transport Maksim Sokolov.

In his speech Tatarstan Minister of Transport and Roads Lenar Safin offered to launch a programme on reconstruction of water transport in Volga Federal region and attract federal and regional funds for its implementation.

According to the Minister, construction of high speed railway “Moscow-Kazan” is the priority project in the railway industry. The aviation industry puts the emphasis on further development of domestic flights in Volga Federal region.

Lenar Safin said that the regional leadership offers to build and reconstruct 18 transport infrastructure objects within the framework of preparation for 2013 FIFA World Cup in Kazan.

Speaking at the meeting, Head of Universiade Executive Directorate Vladimir Leonov first and foremost thanked workers of Tatarstan transport industry. According to Vladimir Leonov, all the planned events were realized 100 percent.

Maksim Sokolov thanked Tatarstan leadership for effective coordination in solving transport tasks and presented a number of awards of Russian Ministry of Transport.