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8 trln rbls to be allocated for road repairs by 2020 – Putin

In 2010, one third of the country's trade turnover passed through the Northwestern Federal District

CHEREPOVETS, September 5 (Itar-Tass) — Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said up to 8.3 trillion roubles would be allocated for road repairs in the period from 2012 through 2020. Putin was speaking at the regional conference of the United Russia Party in the Northwestern Federal District on Monday.

He said the money of regional road funds should only be disbursed for road construction. "We're allocating 8.3 trillion roubles for this purpose," the prime minister underlined.

In 2010, one third of the country's trade turnover passed through the Northwestern Federal District. In his opinion, regions from this District might become national leaders in transport and logistics.

At the same time, Putin underscored the importance of paying attention to rural and urban roads. He suggested that regions allocate money from regional road funds for countryside and urban roads.

He reminded that the idea to revive regional road funds belongs to governors. However, certain representatives of the regional authorities are now asking the government to let them channel the money from road funds to other projects.

"We've come a long way to revive these road funds. They are reanimated, and I've already named the sum of money we intend to accumulate there - eight-odd trillion roubles in eight years. Regional leaders initiated the establishment of these funds. And now some tell us 'let us use this money for the purposes.' Such was not our agreement, and I'm addressing my colleagues - leaders of the Russian regions – use road fund money for road construction," the prime minister stressed.

As for federal roads in the Northwestern Federal District, Putin promised that all of them would be renovated within the next five years.