Chelyabinsk experts assessed the effect of the modernization of the BAM for the development of Russia

President Vladimir Putin spoke about plans for the accelerated renovation of the Baikal-Amur and Trans-Siberian Railways when he met with veteran builders of the BAM. Also, earlier the head of state emphasized that when implementing large infrastructure projects of such a plan, regional roads cannot be ignored, therefore, in the coming years, emphasis will be placed on this area. Members of the “Expert Club of the Chelyabinsk Region” discussed the development of transport infrastructure in Russia.

Thus, according to Nikolai Antipin, deputy director of the United State Archives of the Chelyabinsk Region, the peculiarity of Russia is its incredible open spaces – and this condition alone eloquently shows that the country needs a developed transport network.

“The experience of the Trans-Siberian Railway and the BAM shows that our country can handle projects that have global positive consequences,” the expert is confident.

Vladimir Pavlov, deputy of the State Duma, added that a developed transport network is necessary not only to unite the country, but in the current conditions it is the key to economic development, because now supply chains are being rebuilt from the western to the eastern direction. He also appreciated the emphasis on road repairs in the regions.

“Against the backdrop of putting federal highways and 85% of roads in large agglomerations in order, the decision on the priority development of regional roads is one of the decisions that is truly significant for the people and the development of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation,” the parliamentarian said.

Pavel Bolshakov, journalist, member of the Union of Russian Writers, also noted the great importance of modernizing transport infrastructure for strengthening the Russian economy. China and other Asian countries are promising partners, and the volumes of goods that will be sent along new and updated transport corridors are simply gigantic.

Dmitry Dovbnya, territorial marketer, political strategist, expert at the Public Chamber of the Chelyabinsk Region, added that “moving to the East” can also be useful for the Chelyabinsk region, as it will allow our region to realize its logistics potential and gain the functions of a logistics hub, like in neighboring Yekaterinburg. The expert also added that a particularly important project for the Chelyabinsk region is the transport corridor from the coast of the Arctic Ocean to the countries of the Persian Gulf.

By modernizing the road transport infrastructure, our country is quite capable of becoming a link between the Gulf countries and the Asia-Pacific market, believes Evgeny Savchenko, a member of the Public Chamber of the Chelyabinsk Region.

“This will provide income from the transit of international cargo up to $100 billion a year,” the expert estimated.

He also believes that global infrastructure projects and attention to roads in the regions will certainly contribute to the strengthening of Russian statehood.