Organization of transportation service has to be a priority in preparation for the...

 (KZN.RU, October 26, Renat Shirmanov). Specialists of the “Olympic Games Transport Directorate” branch will be engaged in the skilled logistic development in Kazan. This has been discussed at today’s meeting on the preparation of transport services for the World Summer Student Games in 2013.

Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor, Sergei Kozyrev, the General Director of the autonomy non-commercial organization (ANO) "Olympic Games Transport Directorate”, Sergei Bystrov, his first Deputy as well as the representatives of the Executive Directorate of the Universiade and urban structures have discussed problems in development of the  transport network in Kazan.

About two and a half years are before the start of the World Summer Student Games in Kazan. Now the city is under active preparation for the Universiade-2013. It is known that during the XXVII World Summer Universiade it is planned to involve 64 sport facilities in Kazan. Of course the construction of necessary facilities and accommodation of visitors are the main tasks for the organizers of the Student Games. However at the same time the transport organization for athletes, tourists and guests of the Universiade occupies the leading role.

As an international experience shows the transport organization affects exactly on the reputation of large events organizers. A striking example isthe Olympic Games in Turin and Vancouver where the failures of the transport network put in an awkward position not only athletes who experienceddiscomfort moving between the sport facilities but also ordinary people.

At this point an active construction of road and transport infrastructure is being held. It is provided the construction and reconstruction of 13 objects according to the approved list of objects of the road network of the city needed for the Universiade conduction. Currently work is under way at 9 sites of the road network: five traffic interchanges constructions are started out of the 12, 15 roads are under work out of 23, is underway 15 pedestrian crossings are under construction out of 40.

Of course this is an enormous work that needs large expenses and professional human resources. To introduce the latest innovations and application of international experience in organizing logistics, the decision on the establishment of Kazan “Olympic Games Transport Directorate " branch.

"Two and a half years remain till the Universiade; and one of the main tasks is not only the Universiade holding but also the reception of guests, tourists and mass media representatives. During the Kazan visit of Igor Levitin, the Transport Minister, we talked together with Rustam Minnikhanov, the President, about focusing of our work towards the transport sectors development in our city. Given the experience of professionals in the field of transportation we would like to develop a course of further movement in this direction", Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of Kazan said  opening the meeting on the transport service preparation for the Universiade-2013.

According to the Mayor, logistics and organization of transport is the most important issue after the construction of the Student Games objects. Even if the athletic component of the Universiade is successfully organized, the guests of Kazan will remain a negative impression about their stay in the city in case of troubles with transport.

Howeverthe developed logistics will not only allow to transport guests and participants of the Universiade but also to eliminate potential problems when moving around Kazan caused by additional traffic load on the transport network due to the considerable influx of tourists.

"It's good enough that we managed to develop a conceptual solution of the transport service in preparation for the Universiade 2013. All the leading experts pay attention to the fact that the most important moment in the events organization is a welcoming guests and their transport around the city. We have to eliminate any possible problems when moving around the city of Kazan. Athletes should get to the sport venues easily, and the guests of the Universiade should just enjoy the beautiful views of Kazan during their transfer from one object to another’, Sergei Bystrov, the first Deputy of the General Director of the “Olympic Games Transport Directorate” said.

Sergey Bystrov also noted that the “Olympic Games Transport Directorate” branch takes into effect next week. Kazan “Transport Directorate” branch has already been registered and recorded in the tax office. "As for the branch manager candidates, so it has been agreed with the President of Tatarstan and the Mayor of Kazan. I think in the near future the name of the branch manager will be known for everybody else”, he said.

Thefunding in amount of 10.9 million rubles has been approved by the Olympic Games Transport Directorate. 

During the preparation and holding of the Universiade-2013 the Transport Directorate will participate in the creation of the Transport Management Centre specialized fleet for storage and maintenance of transport for the Universiade. The Transport Directorate branch will not leave without attention the pressing issues of Kazan namely the organization of the required number of parking spaces as well as the elimination of overlapping bus routes which put an additional pressure on the transport network of the city.