Infrastructure contractor of Rotenberg and VEB received the first assets
According to the contract concluded in 2016, the construction was to cost 20.67 billion rubles. and end in December 2020. But in 2019, “landslide processes” were identified: because of this, according to preliminary estimates, the cost of the project will rise in price by 14.2 billion rubles. (up to 34.87 billion rubles), that is, almost 69%, according to the report of the Accounts Chamber. The construction can be completed approximately in 2023, the auditors say. “Adjustments are needed to ensure engineering protection at the facility. We have sent the relevant technical proposals, it will be possible to talk about the cost based on the results of the examination, ”the press service of Transstroymekhanizatsiya told RBC.
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According to the Accounts Chamber, at the beginning of 2020, Transstroymekhanizatsiya also confirmed to the authorities of the Primorsky Territory its readiness to conclude a state contract for the construction of the second stage of the route as the sole contractor. The company itself does not directly comment on this. “As a construction company, we are interested in participating in projects for the development of transport infrastructure, but the final decision is made after an analysis of the projects proposed for implementation,” they noted only there.
Why the auditors proposed not to build a new highway
The Accounts Chamber explains the need to abandon the construction of the second section of this route, primarily because of the difficult terrain and high construction costs. Landslides on the slopes at the sites of the planned construction reach 10 km in length, in addition, it must pass through 112 rivers, streams and channels, which means that the same number of bridges or other artificial structures will be needed, says auditor Valery Bogomolov (his words were conveyed by the press agency service).
The total length of the second section is 104 km; thus, the average price of 1 km is about 3 billion rubles, Bogomolov notes.
In addition to the “negative experience” of construction in the conditions of landslides, another reason to refuse the construction of the second section of the route in the Accounts Chamber is the too long search for an investor. The construction of the route was planned using public-private partnership mechanisms.
Authorities plan to attract up to ₽1 trillion to infrastructure
The report says that Gazprombank showed interest in the project in the fall of 2021, but the Ministry of Transport of the Primorsky Territory did not provide the bank with all the information necessary to make a decision on participation in the construction. “Gazprombank is really interested in participating in the project,” Alexey Chichkanov, First Vice President of Gazprombank, told RBC.
“Insignificant Influence”
The report of the Accounts Chamber states that the new route (the second section of the Vladivostok – Nakhodka – Vostochny port) is important for the development of Primorsky Krai, but will have an “insignificant impact” on the transit of goods through Russia. “In fact, 100% of the supplies of coal, timber and other cargoes to the terminals of the ports of Nakhodka and Vostochny are carried out by rail and sea, and crude oil is delivered by pipeline,” says auditor Valery Bogomolov. The export of raw materials, as well as the import of goods from neighboring countries, takes place mainly by sea. According to him, road transport is used for the transportation of goods only by companies with a small turnover.
At the Board of the Accounts Chamber, where this report was presented, the Governor of Primorsky Territory Oleg Kozhemyako generally supported the proposals of the auditors, the Accounts Chamber said in a statement. According to Kozhemyako, it is necessary to complete the first stage, and after that to consider the reconstruction. And the deputy head of Rosavtodor, Igor Kostyuchenko, said at this meeting that the issue of a possible reconstruction of the existing road would be submitted for consideration by the scientific and technical council of the agency.
RBC turned to the press services of the governor of Primorsky Krai and the regional Ministry of Transport and Roads for comment.