NOVO-OGAREVO, March 14. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the Moscow - St. Petersburg high-speed railroad will promote growth of business activity and tourism because it will cross regions, where 20% of the country’s population are living.

Construction of high-speed traffic lines in Russia will start from the flagship projects linking Moscow and St. Petersburg, the head of state said at the ceremony of railroad construction start and first concrete pouring to the basement of the seventh power generating unit of the Leningradskaya nuclear plant. "The mail line will go over the territory of six regions of the Federation, where about 30 mln people are living. This is about 20% of the total population of Russia," Putin said.

"Such dedicated high-speed routes will also connect other regions over time, and will promote growth of tourism and business activity," the Russian leader added.