Who cares and who cares – Newspaper Kommersant No. 232 (7433) dated 12/14/2022

On December 13, Russian President Vladimir Putin received many transport facilities of various importance from the hands of the builders via video conferencing (VKS). About how they managed to collect them at the same time and, one might say, in one place, – a special correspondent of “Kommersant” Andrei Kolesnikov.

– By the end of 2024, at least 50% of regional roads should have been repaired to a standard state. At the end of the year, we have 49.7%, that is, we are overfulfilling the indicator that was in the national goals for almost two years,” Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin explained at the beginning of the meeting. “We have no doubt that next year this indicator will be reached.

Indeed, in order to achieve the national goals, it is necessary to bring 0.3% of the roads to the standard state over the next year, it turns out.

A separate source of pride is the fight to reduce road deaths.

— Every year we reduce the death rate on the roads. This year, our figure has decreased by 6%, and in their lives it is more than 700 fewer people who died on the roads,” Mr. Khusnullin added.

More than 700 less! This is not at all like less than 700 more.

The Deputy Prime Minister could talk for a long time: it is always interesting to talk about roads. He spoke for a very long time:

– The result of this year is a lot of work done by Rosavtodor with each governor. 84 agreements (one is missing, except for new territories, and it’s better not to count them just in case: today there is, and tomorrow there will only be.— A.K.) we signed with the governors that within five years we will build each road, each object in interconnection, in order. That is, now the huge money that is included in the federal budget – about 5 trillion (rubles – “b”), in regional budgets – 7 trillion, it’s all a single, integral system!

God, what money is subject to Marat Khusnullin!

On this day, meanwhile, they decided to open, it seems, almost everything at once:

— As part of a large program, we systematically deal with the North-South and West-East corridors. From today’s sections, if you look, we are opening the most important section of the West-East corridor, which connects the Moscow Region and the Vladimir Region. Then we open in Yekaterinburg, where the road from Perm to Yekaterinburg is expanding within this corridor, and on your instructions, which was, to Tyumen. We should launch in 2024, we are already opening this section ahead of schedule this year!

It was news. Marat Khusnullin just said that the new road from Moscow through Kazan and Yekaterinburg to Tyumen would be ready in 2024, that is, again, almost a year ahead of schedule.

Marat Khusnullin without a lead – money down the drain.

“If you look at the North-South corridor, then the most important section is the M-8 Kholmogory road,” the Deputy Prime Minister continued, standing, and for a very long time, in the open air in front of the microphone. “Here is a good example, as within the framework of urban agglomerations Andrey Yuryevich Vorobyov and I (Governor of the Moscow Region.— A.K.) agreed that at the federal level, Rosavtodor is making its own road, and Andrey Yuryevich is making a regional access road that is very important for the development of the microdistrict.

Yes, they can no longer even slow down.

– The most important issue, Vladimir Vladimirovich, is the expansion of the M-4 Don, – the Deputy Prime Minister shared. – Now it will be fully high-speed to Rostov. You gave instructions to look at the possibility of speeding up the detour of Rostov and Aksai. Vyacheslav Petushenko (head of Avtodor State Corporation.— A.K.) here, we can confidently say that we will launch this road a year ahead of schedule, at the beginning of summer! Then we launch this road to Krasnodar, bypassing Krasnodar also at the beginning of summer, Vladimir Vladimirovich, we will do it!

It seemed that this music would be eternal:

– Along the Azov-Black Sea basin! .. You instructed to make a road to Kerch, to the Kerch bridge: this year we will finish the bypass of Anapa, next year we will finish the section from Anapa to the Kerch bridge and we will finish most of the section from Krasnodar to the Kerch bridge in 2023 year, and, probably, part will leave for 2024, but according to the contract, we have the end of 2024. Therefore, this advanced funding, systematic work allow us to make a continuous continuous road from Moscow to Crimea!

In order to build such roads, we need great confidence in the future.

But nothing personal. Just running an order.

– A very important facility in North Ossetia. He (the tunnel to the Mamison recreational complex.— A.K.), it would seem small, but tourism development is impossible without it,” Marat Khusnullin added. “In total this year, Vladimir Vladimirovich, we are building 418 objects only for tourist sites, following your instructions.

Indeed, they themselves did not come up with it. But one has only to entrust these people … And to single out, of course.

— This year we have the Rosavtodor company (Federal Road Agency.— “b”) has achieved the best success in all its activities in terms of volume: this year, the Rosavtodor company exceeded the volume of a trillion rubles – these are repaired and built roads, exceeding last year’s level by almost 30%, – Marat Khusnullin admitted.

Well, it really is a breakthrough.

After that, a breakthrough took place directly at Marat Khusnullin. That is, he literally said the following with relief:

— All of today’s results, Vladimir Vladimirovich, have become possible thanks to your constant support, your attention and those systemic decisions that you constantly, systematically make.

The baton was picked up by the head of Avtodor, Vyacheslav Petushenko, who was standing next to Marat Khusnullin:

— Vladimir Vladimirovich, thanks to the financing of such large facilities that we are all implementing, a powerful “fist” of builders has been created. After all, this year we had to visit new territories, and in just six months, 17 factories and 16 contractors were installed there (now it would be especially insulting to leave from there.— A.K.). In addition, you know that we are also solving other problems there …

The last phrase sounded mysterious and significant. And it seemed that even I was beginning to understand something …

“This allowed us to create a powerful fist of builders!” – this time Vyacheslav Petushenko stated unambiguously. – We have full confidence that we will achieve the five-year plan, and most importantly, that the builders who work for us today are ready not only to fulfill the five-year plan – there will be even more tasks!

Maybe he hinted that there would be new territories to be explored.

And by the way, it was in this fist that people believed, unlike many others. These, if anything, can show their fist at the forefront. There is always nowhere to go to. Where they need to go on their own path.

“Marat Shakirzyanovich, we planned to complete the work before Kazan by December 31, 2023, and from Kazan to Yekaterinburg by the end of 2024,” the president addressed the vice-premier after Vladimir Tyumentsev, general director of Sverdlovskavtodor, finished the report. As for the route that we have just been talking about, to Tyumen, how do we build our plans?

In fact, Mr. Khusnullin has already said exactly how. But, apparently, ahead of time.

“Vladimir Vladimirovich, we also want to fully launch it by the end of 2024,” the Deputy Prime Minister repeated. I think that we will succeed.

Meanwhile, by the end of 2024, the country should have a new president.

At some point, Vladimir Putin demanded one of those who stood behind the big bosses. Andrey Dantsev, foreman of the 29th section of Transstroymekhanizatsiya, turned out to be the victim, whom they threw several times with short but strong pushes to the microphone (it’s easy to understand a person: they couldn’t carry their legs).

For half a minute of conversation, the word “excellent” sounded four times.

– How was the work organized? .. – the president asked.

– The work is organized perfectly: a good shift camp, three meals a day, a well-coordinated team, hardworking. Everything is fine, all working conditions are excellent! – Andrei Dantsev was different, apparently, he was no longer just a master, but at least a senior master.

– What is your average salary? the President asked.

– The average salary for craftsmen is 100 thousand (rubles – “b”), road workers have an average salary of around 75 thousand. And what is also important, this year there was an increase in wages in the region of 15%.

– Excellent! Congratulations! the president was convinced.

Yes, everything was good here. No, great!

The curators of the objects reported on their achievements. Done on time was not welcomed. Before the deadline – well, okay. Much ahead of schedule – excellent.

The ceremonial part is over. The lyric began.

“Vladimir Vladimirovich, in September you gave instructions to hold a vote on the choice of the name of the M-12 road,” Marat Khusnullin reminded. “We have a good tradition: to give a name to each road. Together with the presidential administration, with Rosavtodor, with Avtodor, we conducted a survey. This is from Moscow to Tyumen! The name “Vostok” won the vote: it seems like the road goes to the east (that is, there is no certainty.— A.K.), the majority accepted “Vostok”. And the overwhelming majority suggested calling the transnational corridor from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok “Russia”!

The first option was still nothing, the second fantasy ran out. After all, they have already called something “Russia” … Oh, yes, the Moscow-Vladivostok train …

— Vladimir Vladimirovich, we ask you to approve this decision before opening the roads. If you approve it, we will then issue a relevant document and officially name these roads! exclaimed Marat Khusnullin.

– Let’s! As people said, we will do it! the President blessed.

– And one more small suggestion, – the Deputy Prime Minister nodded. – We were still waiting (that is, they had plenty of time. – A.K.) and a meeting was held with all the builders, with the governors … Vladimir region, Nizhny Novgorod region … The builders liked working so much, they want to start up the highway to Arzamas next year, already on September 9, – 400 km; and on December 20, finish the entire route to Kazan! Can you put the opening in your schedule right away?! September 9 – to Arzamas, and by the end of the year, the entire route to Kazan! So that we have nowhere to retreat, so that we agree and build exactly! suggested Marat Khusnullin.

Previously, even he had not acted so famously. Creativity is on the brink. Nervous. And graphics. But it’s beautiful.

– With pleasure! So let’s do it, let’s agree, – the president liked it too.

A convoy of vehicles went along the road.

There is really nowhere left to go.

Andrey Kolesnikov