MOSCOW, October 30 (Itar-Tass) — The construction of a football stadium in St. Petersburg has been brought under public control. A Public Council has been established on Tuesday to supervise the construction of the stadium, Chairman of the Duma Committee on Physical Training, Sport and Youth Organizations Igor Ananskikh declared at a press conference in Moscow on Tuesday.
The construction of a sports arena which is to host the World Soccer Championship in 2018 was to have been complete two years ago, but the date when its construction is to be finally complete was not known yet, he said. Besides, the estimated funds needed for its construction rose to 43 billion roubles from the previously estimated 7 billion, the MP said. "Many wonder why the project has proved so costly," the MP added.
The International Federation of Football Association has nothing to do with the increased costs and a lengthened period needed for the stadium construction, the MP confirmed, but the construction budget has gone beyond all expectations, therefore, we are concerned over the situation, the MP emphasized.
Igor Ananskikh was appointed Chief of the Public Council for supervising the stadium construction. " I think that an optimal way out of the quandary is to finalize the stadium construction. Attracting a new constructor to do the job might procrastinate the stadium construction for a year or maybe a year and a half more. There has been no construction for the past few months because of the absence of budgetary funds the Contractor General needs. Now, the construction was planned to be complete in 2015, the MP said.
He categorically objects to a position someone assumed that St. Petersburg should not hold soccer world championship and games.”My opinion is that St. Petersburg should host a match opening the world championship as a holiday of football fans, but its cost should be fairly high," the MP said.