Head of the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East and Arctic Alexei Chekunkov reported that 63 facilities would be completed in 2025 as part of the effort to implement master plans for the urban development in the Russian Far East.

“The Russian Far East’s master plans are at the implementation stage. In 2024, 99 facilities were built, including sports arenas, amenities, transport facilities, and – importantly – overhauled airports. In 2025, another 63 facilities will be completed,” Mr Chekunkov told the State Duma Committee on the Development of the Russian Far East and Arctic.   

He noted that the most important component of the effort to draw up the master plans is reliance on the opinion of local residents and the prioritizing based on these requirements, with account taken of scientific, technological, and economic aspects.

“I want to stress that the urban master plans are not only architectural or urban development documents but also economic plans designed to transform the urban economy and boost productivity of labor. This also means pay increases. What I want to say is that we are able to create more highly-paid jobs. The master plans are aimed at this aspect as well as at creating a new quality of work and therefore a new quality of life,” the minister specified.

In all, President Vladimir Putin has instructed the Government to draw up 25 master plans for cities in the Russian Far East. These plans include 875 projects worth over 4.4 trillion rubles. The cities slated for large-scale development effort include Blagoveshchensk, Tynda, Belogorsk, Svobodny, and others.