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Putin takes train ride, holds meeting on Olympic construction in Sochi

The president called attention to huge inconveniences which the Olympic construction sites were causing to the residents of Adler and Sochi
Photo ITAR-TASS
Photo ITAR-TASS

SOCHI, December 9 (Itar-Tass) ——Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday held a meeting on construction of Olympic facilities and infrastructure in Sochi. The meeting took place on board of a RA2 high-speed passenger train which Putin rode to inspect a newly-built railroad that leads to the Krasnaya Polyana alpine skiing resort.

Putin told Alexander Tkachev, the governor of the Krasnodar territory, who was also onboard of the RA2 train, that it was necessary to take account of the interests of ordinary people when facilities linked to the Olympic Games in Sochi were built.

“There are certain limits for construction in Sochi, and you should be aware of that. It’s also necessary to take account of people’s opinion,” the Russian president told Tkachev.

Putin was told that construction works on 71 out of more than 800 facilities in Sochi were lagging behind schedule.

The president called attention to huge inconveniences which the Olympic construction sites were causing to the residents of Adler and Sochi. “There is not much left, so be patient a very little more,” Putin said addressing his words to the local people. He added that the finished facilities would serve them for years.

Vladimir Yakunin, the head of the Russian Railways joint-stock company, told the meeting about the characteristics of a new combined automobile and railway road.

The 48-kilometer-long combined automobile and railway road will begin operation in April 2013. It is part of a new transport infrastructure that will allow connecting Adler with the Olympic Park and Krasnaya Polyana. The maximum passenger flow on the railway and automobile roads is 8,500 and 11,500 passengers, respectively. A trip from Adler airport to the end station in Krasnya Polyana will take about 30 minutes.

A new Sochi-Adler-Sochi railway also built by Russian Railways passes through three overhead crossings and two tunnels. High-speed “Lastochka” trains will carry passengers during the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games. Yakunin said that the express trains that are operating now will be replaced next year. He added that the Russian Railways company had carried out large-scale works to reinforce the sea shore and had fulfilled its commitments to restore the Sochi beaches affected by the construction of the railway infrastructure.

Yakunin said that Russian Railways had completed 82% of railway construction works and that all the construction would be finished on time.

Putin thanked the Russian Railways Company for its work.

“This is one of the few companies that does quality work and finishes everything on time, practically according to schedule. Thank you very much. But you should pay attention to price formation and watch the prices in future,” the president said.