Dmitry Mezentsev: The image of Irkutsk is improving with every day

Vice president of the Council of Federation and vice president of the Organizing Committee of the 5^th Baikal Economic Forum Dmitry Mezentsev has recently visited Irkutsk. The goal of his visit was to check the city’s readiness for the Baikal Economic Forum. Vice president of the Council of Federation together with deputy governor of Irkutsk Oblast Vladimir Pashkov and mayor of Irkutsk Vladimir Yakubovsky inspected the places where repairs are being conducted before the Forum. Mezentsev also visited Baikalskaya Street which will be the main artery to transport the guests of the Forum. According to Vladimir Yakubovsky, the part of Baikalskaya Street from the city entrance to Tsimlyanskaya station has been fully renovated, paved with new asphalt and made twice as wide.

Dmitry Mezentsev was also shown a park opposite Diagnostic Center station where the highest in the city fountain has been constructed. In the course of preparations for the 5th Baikal Economic Forum the park has completely been renovated. A piece of ground has been sett-paved, new streetlights have been installed, the fountain bowl and all the necessary fountain equipment has been brought and put into place. In total, about 300 objects will be renovated before the Baikal Forum. Among those are roads, buildings, and parks. Gorky Street, 30^th Divizii Street, Stanislavsky Street, Krasnogo Vosstaniya Street, 3^rd of July Street, Shiryamov Street and Dostoevsky Street will be reconstructed.

“When in 2006 the 4^th Baikal Economic Forum took place there were a lot of questions around what the Forums give to the city. Now we can clearly see that the image of the capital of Eastern Siberia is improving with every year. These positive changes are to a large extent caused by preparation to the Baikal Economic Forum. The renovated buildings stay long after which is pleasant both for the citizens and the city guests. It is very nice to look at such a fountain on a sunny day. I think that the Forum participants will notice all this and will speak about it. It can be seen that in Irkutsk investments are being made into its infrastructure and it is being modified,” noted Dmitry Mezentsev.

“After the 4^th Baikal Forum and before the Irkutsk 350th anniversary we have worked out a program of municipal improvements that includes façade renovations, etc. This program has been going on for 2 years. All the objects that are being repaired now will be completed by the time the Forum starts,” said Vladimir Yakubovsky. He expressed a hope that the impression the renovated Irkutsk will produce upon the Forum guests, among whom are representatives of Federal authorities, will make for allocations from the Federal budget for the city improvements before its 350^th anniversary.