Feed news minsk.gov.by — Municipal Services

Minsk Waterpark to Yield in Its Size Only to That in Berlin

Wed Mar 14 21:00:00 2012 GMT

They have opened lines of credit for the purchase of equipment for the water park of Minsk. This was announced by the Chairman of Minsk City Executive Committee Nikolai Ladutko at a press-conference in the City Hall.

"In its size our water park will yield only to that in Berlin, but ticket prices will be cheaper than those in Poland" - he said. – "We believe that once the construction is financed from the budget, the cost of the tickets must be loyal and reasonable".

Nikolai Ladutko noted that the construction of the water park will be carried out in due time.

"President-hotel" Will Receive Its First Guests in the Second Half of this Year

Tue Mar 13 21:00:00 2012 GMT

"President-hotel", the construction of which is to be soon completed on the corner of Kirov and Engels streets in the capital will receive its first guests in the second half of this year. Now they are carrying on assembling and finishing work in the new complex, Nikolai ZHURAVSKY, Director of the republican unitary enterprise "Hotel "Minsk" the "Minsk-news" Agency correspondent. After their completion, they will begin to install and commission equipment and furniture.

The new hotel will consist of two buildings (11 and 9 floors), 154 rooms, including VIP-room of 500 square meters with a private sauna. The hotel will house three restaurants, five bars, three banquet halls. To arrange major events, there will also be an amphitheater for 600 people. There will also be SPA-center, two swimming pools (10 and 25 m), Turkish bath, a billiard-room, a three-level underground parking.

By December 2012 "Chizhovka Arena" to be iced over

Tue Jan 31 21:00:00 2012 GMT

It is planned that by December 2012 the cultural and entertainment and sports complex "Chizhovka Arena" will have been iced over, and by July 2013 they are going to complete the finishing work and landscaping.

The Chairman of Minsk City Executive Committee Nikolai Ladutsko set the builders this task at a meeting that was held today at the construction site of the project, "Minsk-news" Agency reports.

During the current month they plan to hold tenders for purchasing the necessary materials and equipment, as well as continue brickwork, steel erection, installation of monolithic slabs and the construction of electrical and heating systems.

It’s worth recalling that the cultural and recreational and sports complex will seat 8 thousand spectators. In 2014 the Ice Hockey World Championship matches will be held in the arena. Later, the arena will be used for holding home matches by one of the clubs of the capital. According to the complex design there will be two arenas: a large one for holding matches and a small one for training.

In Minsk, at the intersection of Pobediteley avenue and Narochanskaya street the foundation stone was laid at the base of a multi-functional complex

Tue Dec 20 21:00:00 2011 GMT

Today in the capital there has been a ceremony of laying the foundation stone to mark the construction of a multifunctional complex at the intersection of Pobediteley avenue and Narochanskaya street. The ceremony was attended by Chairman of Minsk City Executive Committee Nikolai Ladutko.

This construction project marks the beginning of an active development of Lebyazhiy dwelling area, which promises to be one of the best in the capital, Nikolai Ladutko said in an interview with the "Moscow-news" Agency correspondent. The new complex will consist of a 35-storey hotel, a 6-storey building housing offices and a medical center, and residential buildings, located as a cascade on both sides of the Hotel.

In the underground level there will be a parking for 600 cars. The building of this impressive facility is scheduled for a bit more than two years. Its commissioning is scheduled for the end of the year of 2013.

- The complex is significant in scale and architecture. It will be modern even in 50 years, because both by its appearance and functional filling it can be called the project of XXII century - says Nikolay Ladutko.

Third Electric Train for "Urban Lines" delivered to Belarus

Sun Apr 3 21:00:00 2011 GMT

The third electric train has been delivered to Belarus within the realization of the "Urban Lines" project. Like the previous two multiple-unit trains, it was delivered from Switzerland by truck tractors. At Baranovichi locomotive shed the cars were placed on platform chassis. Electric and train-stop equipment and trolleys are being currently installed. It is expected that at the beginning of the next week the third Swiss electric train will be delivered to the Minsk railway car shed where its specialists will set up the systems of diagnostics and safety, check up the electric equipment and carry out all other necessary procedures.

As the "Minsk News" agency correspondent was informed at the Belarusian Railway press center, two electric trains within the realization of the "Urban Lines" project are being run in now. They are to cover 2.5 thousand kilometers without passengers on board.

With the beginning of the summer time train schedule they will start trial operation en route "Minsk-Passazhirsky – Belarus (Zaslavl)" with passengers on board. It is planned that the regular train service on the "Urban Lines" route will be opened by the end of the third quarter 2011, after finishing all technical and organizational procedures, the development of necessary standards and norms as well as the reconstruction of the railway infrastructure.

At the first stage the new electric trains will run en route Minsk-Zhdanovichi-Zaslavl. In perspective the "Urban Lines" will connect the capital with its other satellite towns.

Number of hotel beds in the capital to increase by 2.5 times

Thu Feb 3 22:00:00 2011 GMT

By 2014 the number of hotel beds in Minsk is planned to be increased by 2.5 times. This was informed today at a press conference by the Deputy Chairman of Minsk City Executive Committee Vladimir Koltovich, the "Minsk-news" Agency reports.

According to Vladimir Koltovich, for the construction of new hotels they have identified 60 sites and on 7 of which the construction work is under way.

At present there are 28 hotels in the capital. The total number of rooms makes up 3.200. They can accommodate 5.600 guests. 11 metropolitan hotels are certified as 2 - 5 stars hotels.

One of the housing complexes of the future residential area "Lebjazhiy" is to be built in Minsk by the Chinese specialists.

Sun Oct 10 21:00:00 2010 GMT

One of the housing complexes of the future residential area "Lebyazhij" is to be built in the City of Minsk by the Chinese specialists under their own project. Dmitry Levitin, head of the group of architects of "Minskgrazhdanproect," which adapted the Chinese project to the Belarusian standards, has informed "Minsk-news" agency.

In the center of the housing complex will be an artificial pond with islands, bridges, small architectural forms, which will be designed in the Chinese ethnic style.

Around this recreation area the residential development is planned to be located. Close to the water there will be more expensive and comfortable 4 – 6- storied blocks of flats, far away - buildings up to 11 stories. The external appearance of the buildings is rather unusual – they will be chambered constructions with one or two entrances. Each of the floor will have only two flats. This housing complex is to build by the Chinese builders according to their own techniques.

One of the features of the residential area is that it will also have a pedestrian boulevard which will connect the Temeriaziev street with the Pobediteley avenue. The boulevard will be also designed in the Chinese ethnic style

Totally it is planned to build 160-200 thousand square meters of housing in the district, as well as a school, two kindergartens and other social facilities.

Access of non-resident vehicles to Minsk may be limited

Sun Nov 22 22:00:00 2009 GMT

In the future the access of non-resident vehicles to Minsk may be limited to reduce the heavy traffic in the Belarusian capital. The statement was made by President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko as he was informed about the prospects of Minsk’s development on 20 November.

Minsk Chief Architect Viktor Nikitin said, the rapidly increasing number of automobiles has led to traffic jams and increased air pollution levels.

The international experience of megacity development testifies that transport problems must be dealt with fast. Certain restrictions on non-residential transport access to Minsk can be a way out.

If the decision is enforced, the relevant infrastructure will have to be built on approaches to Minsk. In particular, Minsk will need parking lots and smoothly operating urban transport.

Alexander Lukashenko said it should be done with maximum convenience for people. “It should be convenient for people. They could come, leave cars at a parking lot, for a small fee, and enter the city using public transport,” he said.

The head of state underlined that building automobile interchanges is unavoidable.

The discussion also touched upon moving industrial enterprises out of the city. The industrial enterprises that have been relocated beyond Minsk borders should not happen to be inside the city in several years when Minsk grows larger. A document may be developed to regulate the distribution of enterprises across the country.

Second ring road to be build around Minsk

Sun Nov 22 22:00:00 2009 GMT

The second ring road that is planned to be built around Minsk will connect two arterial motorways, namely, Moscow-Berlin and Vilnius-Kiev. A corresponding proposal was approved by President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko during a meeting on the Minsk city development prospects.

“The second ring road is badly needed. But the project needs to be examined carefully so that the road would meet all advanced standards. It should be something of an autobahn,” the President said.

According to him, the construction of the new road will help redistribute transit cargo flows, redeploy logistic centers out of the city and reduce air gas pollution.

Chief architect of Minsk Viktor Nikitin reported to the head of state that the first phase of the project envisages the construction of a 50km half-ring road connecting the two motorways: Moscow-Berlin and Vilnius-Kiev

President urges private developers to shoulder social burden

Thu Oct 22 21:00:00 2009 GMT

Private developers should build not only high-return housing. They should also shoulder social burden, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said when visiting the Kamennaya Gorka new residential area in Minsk.

Apart from high-return housing, private developers should also build social housing and infrastructure facilities, the President said. The organizations already present on the construction market should be taken under tough control. The contracts should be canceled with those private construction companies who have suspended the work due to various reasons, the head of state said.

Alexander Lukashenko pointed to the need to restrict an inflow of people to the capital. “Let us take measures to discourage an inflow of people to Minsk. We cannot have the entire nation live in the capital,” the President said. No one closes the gates to Minsk. Yet, the inflow of people here should be restricted. Proceeding from that, we need to make housing construction estimates”.

Some 18,000-19,000 people came to Minsk from other regions annually in 2003-2007. In 2009 the number of people coming to Minsk reduced to almost 11,000, Acting Chairman of the Minsk City Hall Nikolai Ladutko noted when presenting his report to the President.

According to Nikolai Ladutko, the city authorities have recently abandoned a so-called space-saving theory that envisaged the construction of new buildings on the site of old houses that are pulled down. This theory provoked widespread discontent among the dwellers, especially, the owners of the houses that have been demolished.

The authorities are to take a more selective approach to the issue: only sub-standard buildings will be pulled down. Relatively new houses will be kept intact.

Alexander Lukashenko pointed to a necessity of an economical approach to the problem. According to him, “people should not be pressurized”. People, however, should understand the positive side of a space-saving dwelling construction.

Minsk conference to discuss macroeconomic forecasting 15-16 October

Tue Oct 6 21:00:00 2009 GMT

The 10th international research conference “Problems of forecasting and state regulation of socio-economic development” will be held in Minsk on 15-16 October, BelTA learnt from the Research Economic Institute of the Economy Ministry of Belarus.

The conference will discuss the macroeconomic policy and the state regulation of the economy, the formation of the perspective concept of social development, the forecasting of industries development, the priorities and mechanisms of export development in the system of foreign and economic relations. Participants of the conference will also discuss the innovation and investment development, strategies and mechanisms for regulation of regional development, math modeling of economic processes and IT.

Attending the conference will be representatives of the UN Office in Belarus, heads and specialists of the Economy Ministry of Belarus, other Belarusian ministries and governmental departments, representatives of the National Bank of Belarus, commercial banks of the country, the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, leading research institutes and universities, heads of industrial companies, businessmen, diplomats, experts from Russia, Ukraine, Latvia and Poland.

The conference is organized by the Belarusian Economy Ministry, the National Bank of Belarus, the Belarusian Sci-Industrial Association, the Research Economic Institute of the Economy Ministry of Belarus.

MTZ dealer in Czech Republic wins 3% of local tractors’ market

Wed May 13 21:00:00 2009 GMT

Belarusian tractors are successfully sold on the Czech market, BelTA learnt from Leonid Astapovich, head of the MTZ dealer in the Czech Republic.

Even during the global financial and economic crisis, in January-April this year, the Minsk Tractor Works did not reduced the supplies of tractors to that country as against the same period of 2008, Leonid Astapovich noted.

Despite the fact that the Czech Republic has its own tractors’ manufacturer, the Belarusian machines has won around 3% of the Czech market owing to the reasonable price. “For instance, it is not less complicated than to win 3% of the Czech beer market,” Leonid Astapovich noted.

In 2008, some 83 Belarusian tractors were exported to the Czech Republic. The total sales of the MTZ dealer in the Czech Republic made up ?5 million. Over the recent six years, more than 450 Belarusian agricultural machines including tractors, seeding-machines, disc tillers and baling machines have been sold in the Czech Republic.

The MTZ dealer in the Czech Republic proposes all the line-up of the Belarusian tractors from MTZ-320 to MTZ-1523 and also minitractor MTZ-921.

Turkey, Ukraine to participate in Minsk historical centre reconstruction projects

Sun Mar 1 22:00:00 2009 GMT

Turkish and Ukrainian companies are going to take part in reconstruction projects in the Minsk historical centre, BelTA has learnt from Andrei Yasyuchenya, chairman of the construction and investment committee of Minsk City Council.

“Foreign contracting organizations have expressed an interest in reconstruction projects of Minsk historical downtown. Protocols of intents have already been signed with Emsas (Turkey) and Kievgorstroy (Ukraine),” said Andrei Yasyuchenya.

Ten projects are currently underway in the Minsk downtown. They have been included in the programme for reconstruction, restoration of this part of the city for 2004-2010. All in all over 150 sites will be rebuilt.

One of the most interesting projects is a new educational centre, which will include the Zhirovichi theological academy, its offices and classes. The centre will be located at Torgovaya street, which will be later redesigned into a pedestrian precinct. Over 35 low-rise buildings will be reconstructed and reconstructed.

Moreover, the Church of Holy Spirit will be renovated, too. It was founded in the 17th century and was part of the Bazilian monastery, which was destroyed in 1937. Thechurch is an important species of architecture in Minsk.

In 2004 the Minsk City Council set up the Minsk Spadchyna company to ensure a comprehensive approach to reconstruction, restoration, exploitation and construction of buildings in the Upper Town, Troitskoye and Rakovskoye historical suburbs.

Workshop on democratic policing to take place in Minsk in June

Wed Feb 25 22:00:00 2009 GMT

A workshop on democratic policing will take place in Minsk in June, Anatoly Kurinets, Deputy Interior Minister, told reporters on February 26.

The workshop was initiated by the OSCE Strategic Police Matters Unit. The workshop will highlight the issues of democratization of the work of Belarusian police and transparency in the work with the public. Representatives of the CIS and Eastern European Interior Ministries are expected to attend.

“We are not going to criticize the Belarusian police. We hold similar workshops in all European countries,” said Senior Police Adviser to the OSCE Secretary General – chief of the OSCE Strategic Police Matters Unit (SPMU) Kevin Carty.

The OSCE delegation is in Belarus on a working trip. On February 26 the delegation will meet with the Interior Ministry seniour officials to discuss possible cooperation areas in personnel training and enhancement of qualifications, combating organized crime, illegal drug and human trafficking. The OSCE delegation will visit the Interior Ministry Academy, the International Training Center on Migration and Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Training Center of the Interior Ministry, where the guests will get familiar with academic process and material and technical facilities.

Multi-purpose complex “Minsk-Arena” to be opened in October 2009

Tue Dec 30 22:00:00 2008 GMT

The multi-purpose entertainment and sports complex “Minsk-Arena” will be opened in October 2009, said President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko attending an official ceremony to inaugurate a velodrome at the multi-purpose entertainment and sports complex “Minsk-Arena”, BelTA has learnt.

The velodrome for up 2,000 seats is the first facility to be commissioned at the multi-purpose entertainment and sports complex “Minsk Arena”. According to the President, when the construction is over, the Belarusians will have “a real centre for active leisure and promotion of the healthy lifestyle.” The complex will comprise an ice arena and a speed skating rink with a total of 20,000 seats.

The opening of the velodrome has allowed to hold the cycling championship in Belarus and not abroad as it used to be. On December 30, the velodrome will host the finals of Belarus’ Open Cycling Track Championship. Taking part in the competition will be sportsmen from Belarus, Ukraine, Russia, Lithuania and the Czech Republic.

Alexander Lukashenko expressed his confidence that the opening of the velodrome will help promote cycling and give a powerful impetus to its development in Belarus. Over the recent years, the state has done a lot to build up the sports infrastructure, both in the centre and in the countryside. The training of athletes and competitions are carried out on a brand new level. Our teams win medals more often at international competitions, the President said.

Mikhail Pavlov: 100 cafes will be opened in Minsk every year

Sun Nov 23 22:00:00 2008 GMT

A public catering development programme has been elaborated in Minsk. Under this programme, more than 100 cafes and small restaurants will be opened in the capital every year, Minsk City Council Chairman Mikhail Pavlov told reporters on November 21.
The public catering development programme involves the construction of new facilities and readjustment of old ones. “The number of tables in Minsk cafes is insufficient and we are seriously working on this issue. This subject will be brought up at the session of the Minsk City Council in the nearest future,” the Minsk Mayor said.
He added that the problem of parking places in downtown Minsk will be settled within five years. “Both underground and ground level parking lots will be constructed in the city centre within five years”, Mikhail Pavlov added.

Two new hypermarkets to be opened by the end of 2009

Wed Aug 13 21:00:00 2008 GMT

Two new hypermarkets are expected to be put into operation in Minsk by the end of 2009.

One of them will be at the crossing of Partizansky ave. and Bekhtereva str., the other one - near the metro station “Mogilevskaya”.

In the near future it is planned to realize some other investment projects such as big trade centers around Minsk ring road. Currently there are 5 hyper- and supermarkets: “Gippo”, “Maximus”, “ProStore', “Korona” and “Globo”.

Construction of pilot complex of Minsk-City project to be launched in November 2008

Tue Aug 5 21:00:00 2008 GMT

The Russian company ITERA intends to launch the construction of the pilot complex of the Minsk-City project in November 2008, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia to Belarus Alexander Surikov said at a press conference in Minsk on August 6.

The company won the tender for the construction of 320 hectares of the Minsk-City territory. “The project is to be implemented by 2020, it is estimated at $4.5 billion,” the diplomat noted.

Alexander Surikov underlined that the investment cooperation between Belarus and Russia “is developing pretty well”. The Moscow government is particularly active in the implementation of its investment projects in Belarus. Apart from that, the positions of the Russian banking capital in Belarus are becoming increasingly stronger. “Russian banks are successfully operating on the Belarusian market as subsidiary companies. Such banks as Foreign Trade Bank (VTB trademark), Gazprombank, Alfa-Bank and others are building up their authorized capital,” the Ambassador noted.

Alexander Lukashenko outlines several Minsk-based projects to Crowne Plaza investor

Thu Jul 31 21:00:00 2008 GMT

Visiting Crowne Plaza Hotel on July 31 President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko suggested that Sudi Ozkan, President of Princess Group, who had invested in building the hotel, should accomplish more projects in the Belarusian capital. Participation in building a hotel or a hotel and business centre is an option.

At present eight hotels are under construction in Minsk using foreign investments. Another ten projects are being worked out. The head of state remarked “It is good that investment projects are implemented by different companies from different countries”.

The President underscored proposals of foreign investors concerning Minsk’s development should be considered faster. “They want to build a business centre? Why does it have to be slow? We are getting good facilities. It is profitable for both sides. There is no need to slow down decision-making, it should be fast,” said the head of state. He added, social sphere should not be forgotten when major projects are accomplished.

Alexander Lukashenko examined Crowne Plaza Hotel and generally had a positive opinion about the reconstruction of the former Svisloch Hotel, which is now Crowne Plaza Hotel. It boasts a casino, a restaurant, conference hall, spa saloon, fitness hall, night club, features a swimming pool as well as 115 suites and two presidential suites.

Nowadays there are 30 hotels in Minsk, with at least 4 hotel accommodations per 1,000 residents all in all. Minsk’s general development plan envisages ten hotel accommodations per 1,000 residents. In major tourism centres of Europe there are 30 hotel accommodations per one thousand residents.

The President was told, the profitability of the entire metropolitan hotel industry stands at 170%. While in 2007 Minsk hotels welcomed 550,000 visitors, in H1 2008 the number increased by 10-15% up on the same period of last year.

At present Minsk visitors are welcomed to stay at five-star Europe Hotel, two four-star hotels Minsk and Victoria as well as five three-star hotels. In the near future there are plans to build six five-star hotels in Minsk as well as a hotel as part of the Minsk City business centre and a sports and hotel facility Tractor.

Results of tender for Minsk-City architectural concept to be announced in September

Wed Jul 30 21:00:00 2008 GMT

The results of the tender for an architectural concept of Minsk-City will be announced in September, BelTA was told in the ITERA press service.

10 international architectural bureaus are tendering for the concept. “The international architectural community is showing a huge interest in the participation in this project,” the ITERA press service underlined. When the tender is concluded, the first stage of the construction of Minsk-City will begin.

The mini-city will occupy 318 hectares and will include a business centre, a residential area for a total of 60 thousand people, trading, entertainment, sporting and social facilities, including 7 schools and 5 kindergartens.

The mini-city will be constructed on the territory of the old Minsk-1 airport, aircraft repair plant and other unprofitable enterprises. These objects will be pulled down. A new modern aircraft repair plant will be built at the National Airport.

The Minsk-City company includes the construction company SU-155 that will act as a technical customer and general contractor and the Minsk city real estate centre representing the Minsk City Council. Minsk-city supervisory Board is chaired by First Deputy Mayor of Moscow Vladimir Resin.

The implementation of this project is currently on the stage of coordination and preparation.

A Moscow delegation headed by First Deputy Mayor of Moscow Vladimir Resin is arriving in Minsk on July 31. The delegation is to visit the construction site of the Minsk-City business centre and residential area “Moskovsky”.

6 five star hotel complexes are to be built in Minsk in the nearest future

Wed Jul 30 21:00:00 2008 GMT

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko will visit Crowne Plaza Minsk on July 31, BelTA learnt from the presidential press service. $34 million was invested in the construction of the hotel. The hotel has 115 rooms and 2 presidential suites.

There are 30 hotels in Minsk. The total number of beds there is less than 4 per one thousand people. Under the general plan of Minsk, this figure should be increased up to 10 beds per one thousand. In major European tourist centres this figure is equal to 30.

Minsk has one five star hotel - Europe, two four star hotels - Hotel Minsk and Viktoria, and five three star hotels. 6 five star hotel complexes are to be built in Minsk in the nearest future. A hotel complex is also to be constructed as part of Minsk-City business centre and Tractor sporting and hotel complex.

Implementation of Minsk-City construction project to be launched in November

Wed Jul 30 21:00:00 2008 GMT

The implementation of a large-scale project of Minsk-City construction will be launched in November 2008, BelTA learnt from First Deputy Mayor of Moscow Vladimir Resin. The carrying-over of the factory of ferroconcrete items will be started in the nearest future.

A delegation of the Moscow government arrived in Minsk on July 31 to discuss the implementation of the Russian construction projects in Minsk.

According to Vladimir Resin, the competition for the best architectural concept of Minsk-City (approximately September-October) will be followed by the competitive tender for the best designing and contracting organization. “Using competition, we will select the best and the most progressive solutions,” the First Deputy Mayor of Moscow added.

Vladimir Resin praised the work on the preparation of the construction site carried out by the Minsk City Council. “We have already built a similar City-1 in Moscow and launched the construction of a second one, but in Minsk the starting conditions for the work are very attractive,” he said after he saw the territory of the Minsk-1 airport.

The project is preliminarily estimated at $5 billion. The construction is to be complete by 2020.

Russia initiated projects in Minsk will be completed in due time, Sergei Sidorsky says

Wed Jul 30 21:00:00 2008 GMT

All the projects initiated by the Moscow government in Minsk will be completed in due time, Prime Minister of Belarus Sergei Sidorsky said at the meeting with First Deputy Mayor of Moscow Vladimir Resin.

A delegation of the Moscow government arrived in Minsk on July 31 to discuss the implementation of the Russian construction projects in Minsk. The projects include the construction of the House of Moscow, Minsk-City complex, two hypermarkets, etc.

Vladimir Resin visited the construction site of Minsk-City complex. The total area of the site is about 300 hectares. “I have not seen such a well-prepared construction site for a long time. The project is impressive,” he noted.

He underlined the social character of all the projects implemented by Moscow in Minsk.

New energy saving technologies to be considered in Minsk July 29-31

Mon Jul 28 21:00:00 2008 GMT

New energy saving technologies of outdoor lighting will be considered in Minsk on July 29-31, BelTA learnt from the press service of the State Standardization Committee.

The use of energy saving technologies including in outdoor lighting and lighting of industrial objects is one of the most important principles of work among domestic companies. Therefore, seminars organized by the Belarusian State Institute of Upgrading Qualifications and Retraining of the Personnel in Standardization, Metrology and Quality Management will be dedicated to this theme.

In particular, Minsk will play a host to a seminar “New energy saving technologies of outdoor lighting” on July 30 and to a seminar “New energy saving technologies of industrial objects lighting” on July 31.

The seminars held by Philips representatives will focus on the lighting technology fundamentals and estimation of economic efficiency in switching to new energy saving technologies, introduction of such technologies in outdoor, architectural and street lighting, lighting of industrial objects. The seminars will include a presentation of energy saving products.

Partaking in the seminars will be members of the interested bodies, oblast and urban executive committees, industrial companies and relevant services.

Univest-M to invest $350mn in construction of residential compound in Minsk

Mon Jul 21 21:00:00 2008 GMT

The foreign private production and trading company Univest-M will invest $350 million in the construction of a residential compound ‘Kaskad’ in Minsk, director general of the company Vladimir Zdobnov told a press conference dedicated to the laying down of the first stone in the place of the future residential compound.

The residential compound is one of the large-scale construction projects in the centre of the capital. The compound will occupy 16 hectares and will include 125,000 square metres of housing, social, transport, trading, sports and educational facilities.

The Univest-M company has already invested around $39 million in the national and city budgets to develop the site. For example, several outdated facilities such as bus depot No 2 and others have been redeployed. The first house is slated for completion in Q4 2009. The residential area will be delivered in 2015. Vladimir Zdobnov noted that the concept of the project is based on three pillars: ecology, comfort, safety.

Speaking about the prices Vladimir Zdobnov said that this is not going to be upscale housing. It is designed for middle class of city dwellers.” The price will be approximately $1,200-1,300 per 1 square meter.

In turn, the chairman of the architecture and town planning department of the Minsk city council, chief architect of the capital Viktor Nikitin said that the project aims to address one urgent town planning issue. “Unfortunately the territory of Minsk is small and not enough for mass district construction. Therefore we need to demolish old buildings. Univest-M is the first investor who has risked making this move in the centre of the capital,” Viktor Nikitin informed.

Viktor Nikitin said that he was happy that the city has been growing more attractive for investors and added that several other sites for similar projects are under consideration now.

The Univest-M group of companies founded by the Univest consulting and trading GmbH arrived in Belarus in 2001. It is the biggest supplier, processor and exporter of oil products in the country and is one of the largest operators in the Belarusian real estate market.

Chervensky market renovation project involving Iran’s DIDAS Co. to be launched in 2009

Tue Jul 1 21:00:00 2008 GMT

The project to construct a shopping centre at the Chervensky market in Minsk involving the DIDAS Co. from Iran will be launched in 2009, Leonid Senko, a deputy chairman of the board of directors of Belcoopsoyuz (Belarusian Cooperative Union), told a press conference on July 2.

“The preparatory work goes according to the schedule. The Iranian company has opened an office in Belarus; the work on setting up a joint venture is well under way,” Leonid Senko said. According to him, the amount of DIDAS investment in the project is not finalized yet as there is no design and estimate documentation. The Iranian company is expected to invest $150 million.

A decision to construct a hypermarket in Minsk involving a Latvian investor will be taken in the next few months. The investment is estimated at more than $30 million, Leonid Senko said.

Belcoopsoyuz plans to conclude an agreement with the Latvian company to reconstruct several facilities. The organisation also would like to find investors for the construction of chain stores across Belarusian regions. The work on choosing the sites for such stores is under way. “We suggested that the sites should be allocated by resolution of the regional authorities rather than by auction. The Government has approved the proposal,” Leonid Senko said.

Currently there are few companies with foreign investment in the system of consumer co-operatives. Belcoopsoyuz has been working hard on changing the situation.

Residential area with geothermal heating system will be constructed in Minsk

Wed Jun 18 21:00:00 2008 GMT

A residential area with a geothermal heating system will be constructed in Minsk in the near future, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said when talking to students of Minsk universities during his visit to the construction site of the Minsk Student Village. Chinese specialists who have big experience in this area will help Belarusian constructs implement the project.

Alexander Lukashenko said that in the next five or seven years Belarus will increase the alternative energy share to 30%. “Wind, solar and water energy are almost free of charge. That is possible in Belarus and we will be working on it,” the head of state said.

“We have been talking a lot about independence, sovereignty. But if we continue “stumbling” on energy resources, continue kneeling, then what independence and sovereignty we can talk about?” the Belarusian leader asked. Therefore Belarus needs to develop alternative energy to get rid of energy dependence.

Belarus President wants Minsk Student Village ready by November 2011

Wed Jun 18 21:00:00 2008 GMT

The construction of the Minsk Student Village should be completed by November 2011, said President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko during the ceremony, which marked the start of the construction.

The government will allocate around Br700 billion for building the campus, which will house around 11,000 students from various universities.

It will be a unique facility for Belarus and the entire CIS. The campus will include eight modern dormitories, a clinic, a sport and recreation centre, a shopping centre, an entertainment centre and other social infrastructure objects.

Belarus is a country with a high education level of the population. Belarusian specialists are competitive on the international labour market. It is important to give education opportunities and create a comfortable environment for the educational process. According to the head of state, the housing problem is acute: around one third of non-Minsk students cannot get an accommodation from their universities and are forced to pay a lot for rented accommodation. With much lower tenancy costs, the student village will resolve the housing problem for 11,000 students.

The Construction of Multiscreen Cinema «Belarus» is About Finished

Mon Jun 16 21:00:00 2008 GMT

The construction of multiscreen cinema «Belarus» is planned to be finished on July 1, 2008, reported Vasiliy Koktysh, general director of unitary enterprise «Kinovideoprokat».

It is the first large-scale construction project in Belarus. The multiplex consists of 5 cinema halls for the audience of 1,040 people. Cinema projectors, plotters which are made by the leading German projector company “Kinoton” will be installed in a new multiplex. The specialists of the company will come to Minsk to install cinemachinery, which will allow to show one film at five halls at the same time. A precise opening date of the multiplex has not been determined yet.

Volume of Residential Construction Has Been Increasing In Minsk

Sun Jun 15 21:00:00 2008 GMT

For the last five months 217 thousand square meters of residential areas were built in Minsk. It is 22,4 per cent more in comparison with the similar period of the last year. In total 973.9 thousand square meters were built in Minsk in 2007, moreover, the volumes of residential construction were growing steadily in the second half of the year. 1.229 million square meters are planned to be put up into operation this year.

Almost half of the residential accommodation put into operation in January-May 2008 is intended to support the most vulnerable population groups living in poor housing conditions and young couples and families without access to affordable housing.

The construction of the bus station «Centralniy» to start next week

Mon Jun 9 21:00:00 2008 GMT

The main stage of the construction of the complex which will include municipal bus station «Centralniy» and a five-level parking garage for 500 cars is to start next week.

The complex will spread out over 270 meters along Bobruyskaya Street. It will harmonically blend with the architectural ensemble of Minsk and will become a logical continuation of the railway station. The building will remind citizens and guests of Minsk of a huge express which made a stop near railway station. It will comprise a waiting room, office and trade centers, bars, cafes and restaurants.

Reconstruction of Minsk Metro’s transfer station

Mon May 26 21:00:00 2008 GMT

The exact date when the transfer station Oktyabrskaya of Minsk metro will be closed because of the reconstruction has not been fixed yet. But specialists have already elaborated a range of moves to be implemented for passengers’ convenience.

The head of Minsk Metro, Georgy Yakimenko, said that with the beginning of the reconstruction trains would pass Oktyabrskaya station nonstop, but the stopping time at the stations Victory Square and Lenin Square would increase. In spite of this the total time from the first to the last station of the first metro line would stay as it is now. The closing of the station will entail an increased stream of passengers who will enter Kupalovskaya station from the side of supermarket Centralny. It is planned to involve more ticket collectors there.

3.600 people work in Minsk Metro

Thu May 22 21:00:00 2008 GMT

Today Minsk underground is comprised of 2 lines with 25 stations, and depots “Moskovskoye” and “Mogilevskoye”. The aggregate length of both metro lines is more than 30 kilometres. In total 3.600 people work in Minsk underground.

It is planned to open three new metro stations by 2011 in the Southwest of the metropolis, and the first part of the third line in 2017.

By the way, our metro is considered one of the best in the CIS according to high standards of service and safety of traffic.

Belarus President to get familiar with Minsk development projects

Wed May 7 21:00:00 2008 GMT

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko gщt familiar with the development projects of Minsk.
The Belarusian head of state considered the projects of the open international competition for the best architectural solution of the territory adjoining the National Library.
On March 2008, 13 projects were submitted to participate in the competition. They were developed by 12 domestic and international designing organizations from Great Britain, Canada, France, Slovakia and the USA.
The territory to be developed is 34 hectares large. The participants of the competition are to come up with a project of a modern urban ensemble which would harmonize with the architecture of the National Library of Belarus, the park and Independence avenue.

More than 692,000 Minskers took part in the nation-wide Subbotnik bringing 5,872 bln rubles to Minsk

Mon Apr 21 21:00:00 2008 GMT

On April 19, 2008 Minskers took part in the nation-wide Subbotnik and earned 5 billion 872 mln roubles. In all, 692, 000 Minskers took part in the annual subbotnik. 5,8 bln roubles is not the final sum. A major contribution to Subbotnik was made by Minsk`s enterprises and organizations which manufactured industrial products to the sum of 8,6 bln roubles.

A half of the money earned at Subbotnik is intended to buy medical equipment for children's hospitals and polyclinics.

A new aircraft repair plant to be constructed near «Sokol»

Sun Mar 23 22:00:00 2008 GMT

A new aircraft-repair plant will be constructed near microdistrict Sokol. The construction of the aircraft-repair plant and Minsk-City residential and administrative business center will be launched in September, 2008. The project would be built in the Aeroport district of the city.

The business center will occupy an area of 330 hectares with over 1.5 million square meters of housing, thousands of offices and social facilities. Minsk City will provide over 55,000 new jobs.

Construction of Minsk City first facilities to be launched in September

Sun Mar 16 22:00:00 2008 GMT

The construction of a new aircraft repair plant outside Minsk and the first facilities of Minsk City should be launched in September 2008. Relative resolution was passed on March 14 after today’s meeting at President’s Office which focused on the issues of relocation of the existing aircraft repair plant and other aviation facilities outside Minsk and construction of a new aircraft repair plant.
During the meeting, the preliminary results were analyzed and further activities were discussed.
Alexander Lukashenko noted that all the works from design to construction “should be done promptly”. The relocation of the existing aircraft repair plant and other aviation facilities outside Minsk is a key issue in the implementation of the project Minsk City. “The time framework for the implementation of this project has been set. We must get down to concrete actions at once,” the President highlighted.
The most important thing here is to retain the highly qualified personnel of the plant, retrain them for their work in a new environment, to set up necessary housing infrastructure, the President said.
A management company has been set up to handle the Minsk City project.

Belarussian State Circus to Be Closed for Reconstruction

Thu Jan 31 22:00:00 2008 GMT

On April 1, 2008 the building of State Circus will be closed for reconstruction. The artists of the circus will move to the tent show which will be set up near the National library. The tent show will seat two thousand people. The playing time of circus programmes will be temporarily shorten reported Tatyana Bondarchuk, artistic director of State circus. The reconstruction works are planned to be finished by the end of this year.

908 Buses During Rush Hours

Sun Jan 27 22:00:00 2008 GMT

Daily passengers in Minsk have 908 buses at their disposal during the rush hours. More than 20 thousand timetabled services are operated by buses on 170 routes. Besides, daily some 786 trolleybuses operate 67 routes. On weekdays passengers use 118 trams, 200 underground railway carriages, and 130 minibuses. Enterprise “Minsktrans” has 200 minibuses. In all, “Minsktrans” counts 1,800 buses providing suburban and interurban services and international operations.

In total the enterprise has more than 1,000 trolleybuses, 150 tram carriages and 243 underground railway carriages.

Architects of Well-known American Design Studio to Take Part in Realization of Construction Projects of Minsk

Thu Jan 24 22:00:00 2008 GMT

Architects of well-known American design studio of Costas Candillis will probably take part in realization of construction projects of Minsk.

A group of representatives of the studio under the direction of Costas Candilis made a visit to Minsk. They brought some of their projects, mainly architectural concepts. The studio`s architects known for many projects in New York, are going to take part in realization of various investment programmes of Minsk. They are planned to present concrete proposals to the President of Belarus in February.

Besides, the guests visited an exhibition of new works of the members of Belarusian Union of Architects. Costas Candilis noted the high level of architectural projects and offered to organize period of trainee of Belarusian architects at his studio.

Around $1.5bn to be invested in new Pobeditelei Avenue in Minsk

Mon Jan 21 22:00:00 2008 GMT

There are plans to invest around $1.5 billion in the reconstruction and construction of new buildings in Minsk’s Pobeditelei Avenue.

At present Pobeditelei Avenue is a major motorway of the city. There are plans to build and reconstruct 20-25 objects there within 5-6 years.

The avenue’s uniqueness is put down to the avenue’s connection with the city’s historical centre, with the River Svisloch determining a lot in the avenue’s development. The avenue is over nine kilometres long. There are many unique objects there such as the Sports Palace, the Football Manege, Victoria Hotel, a tennis compound, major residential districts, with the construction of the sports compound Minsk Arena underway. Apart from that, there are plans to fit the avenue with major European-level unique objects such as hotels and business centres, sports and entertainment establishments, administrative buildings.

There are plans to rebuild the Minsk citadel in the part of the avenue, which belongs to the city’s historical core. The project provides for erecting a national historical and archive centre based on an underground museum of the city archaeology and history. The museum will combine museum, cultural and educational functions. There will be ground-level promenade solariums, which will also be used as open-air exhibition areas. The restored embankment and wooden entrance gates of the ancient stronghold will be the key parts of the compound. There are also plans to unearth the part of the River Nemiga, which now flows in an underground canal.

Hotel company Hyatt starts building hotel in Minsk

Mon Jan 21 22:00:00 2008 GMT

Hyatt, one of the world’s premier hotel companies, has started building a five-star hotel in Minsk.

Around $60 million will be poured into the new hotel, which will have 240 rooms. The project is supposed to be accomplished within two years.

The hotel is supposed to be built near Komsomolskoye Lake. The hotel will have only 7-8 storeys in order not to affect the view on the lake.

The construction of another five-star hotel near the Palace of the Republic is supposed to start soon. Well-known company Kempinski will take part in building it.

Foreign investors show huge interest in building various objects in Minsk. Proposals are coming from the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar, and Syria.

Up-to-date Hotel and Business Centre to Replace Belarus Hotel

Mon Jan 21 22:00:00 2008 GMT

A hotel and business centre will be constructed to replace the Belarus Hotel. According to specialists, the Belarus Hotel is ineffectual. Its premises do not correspond to the international requirements. The reconstruction will not make small hotel rooms more comfortable. Moreover, the building cannot be fitted with an effective engineering support system.

In this connection the Minsk city developers have proposed to demolish the building to replace it with an up-to-date facility. “Potential investors have expressed their interest in the project. We plan that the investor will finance the expenses related to the dismantling of the Belarus Hotel,” chief architect of Minsk Viktor Nikitin reported to the President.

A new compound will include a five-star hotel and a Class A business centre meeting all international standards. The compound will also include an entertainment centre, a swimming-pool, sports and other facilities.

The 40-45 storied compound will feature three towers, two of them will be housing a hotel, the third – a business centre. The upper floors will accommodate several restaurants with the observation deck on top of the building. The new hotel is expected to have a helicopter pad.

Minsk to Get Super Modern Aqua Park

Mon Jan 21 22:00:00 2008 GMT

A super modern aqua park will be built in Minsk, the President of Belarus was told during his visit to the Minsk City Hall on January 22.

The aqua park territory is located near the Drozdy storage reservoir close to the crossing of Pobeditelei Avenue and the Minsk ring road. The aqua park will be a unique facility with the total area in excess of 14,000 square metres. It will utilise the latest entertainment novelties and will offer a wave pool and a gaming pool, a playing area with slides, a waterfall, water amusements, and an open-air pool.

The provisional cost of the facility is estimated at $45 million. Investors, which already channel money into other Belarusian projects, have expressed interest in implementing the project.

Iranian business ready to invest $225m in construction of hotel and business centre in Minsk

Mon Jan 21 22:00:00 2008 GMT

A multifunctional administrative-hotel-business centre is expected to be constructed in the vicinity of the National Library in Minsk in two years.
Iranian company Keison showed interest in this project. The project is estimated at $225 million. The Iranian side expressed readiness to supply its equipment for construction of the centre.
The centre is expected to include three basic facilities: an administrative-business area, a trade centre and a hotel. The centre will also include a parking, a skating-rink, a fitness-centre and an amusement area for children.

Among CIS Countries Minsk Has the Highest Speed of Metro Construction

Wed Nov 7 22:00:00 2007 GMT

The head of the Administration of the President of Belarus Gennady Neviglas has taken part at the solemn ceremony of opening two new metro stations. He underlined that Minsk has the highest speed of metro construction among the CIS countries.

The construction of metro in Minsk began 30 years ago. Annually metro lines are extended by one kilometer. For the moment the total length of two lines of the Minsk Metro makes up 33 kilometers.

'Regularity, reliability and strict observance of diagrams of the Metro train during the rush hours, as well as popularity among citizens, makes Metro a national type of transport', - Gennady Nevyglas has emphasized.

Every day more than 800 thousand citizens of Minsk and guests of the capital use metro. It makes up one-third of the total amount of city passenger transportations.

In the Nearest Years More Attention will be Paid to the Construction of Underground Parkings

Sun Nov 4 22:00:00 2007 GMT

For the purpose of rational use of urban areas it is planned to develop underground construction in Minsk. Minsk’s shopping centre “Stolitsa” has become the first massive construction of this kind. According to the head of department of architecture and organization of design works of Committee on Architecture, Urban Planning and Land Management of Minsk City Executive Committee Alexey Martinov in the nearest years more attention will be paid to the construction of underground parkings. The construction of high buildings with underground parkings is considered to be the most perspective and profitable.

The First Low-Energy House In Minsk

Tue Oct 16 21:00:00 2007 GMT

The first low-energy house built by joint stock company “Mapid” was put into service in Minsk. The building is equipped with special technologies and contains modern equipment which allows for three times more efficient use of heat energy in winter period. If specific energy consumption in a standard building makes up 90-110 kW/h, in a new low-energy house it is only 30-40 kW/h.

Clean Tap Water

Tue Oct 16 21:00:00 2007 GMT

The scientists of Minsk Scientific-Research Institute of Physical-Chemical Problems of Belarussian State University have developed filters which allow to purify chlorinated water and make it clean. These filters can be installed both in houses and in different establishments. The scientists hope that there will be a strong demand for the filters in kindergartens, schools and hospitals. The filters remove chlorine, organic and chlor-organic compounds, and insoluble metal ferrite compounds from water. The scientists believe the development has almost unlimited resources.

The Seminar on 'Energy Efficiency in Manufacturing and in Operation of Household Electrical Devices'

Mon Oct 1 21:00:00 2007 GMT

The seminar on 'Energy efficiency in manufacturing and in operation of household electrical devices' has been held in Minsk. It was held by Belarusian State Institute of Standardization and Certification within the bounds of the programme of cooperation between Gosstandart and Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (Germany). Representatives of Department on Energy Efficiency of Gosstandart, manufacturers of electrotechnical devices and certification authorities of this production have taken part in the seminar. German specialist of the Institute Kristof Türk has made a presentation of the report on EU energy efficiency requirements to refrigerators, washing-machines, dish washing machines and gas ranges. The information about recently worked out Republic state standards corresponding to EU requirements was also one of the subjects of the seminar. These state standards will boost energy-efficient production turnout.

Two New Underground Stations of the Second Line are to Put into Operation at the Beginning of November

Sun Sep 23 21:00:00 2007 GMT

“The next station is “Uruchye””. These words will be heard by passengers of Minsk underground in a month and a half. Two new metro stations of the second line are to put into operation at the beginning of November. The route of the trains of Minsk underground will be 2.800 metres longer – to the residential area Uruchye. The Chairman of Minsk City Executive Committee Mikhail Pavlov has taken part in a trial run, which has been given at the new station Borisovskiy Trakt.

At present time the constructors are completing the finishing of entrance lobbies and platforms, the mounters are examining utility connections; the adjacent territory is being provided with necessary facilities.

A New Universal Model of a Trolley Bus

Tue Aug 28 21:00:00 2007 GMT

Minsk unitary enterprise 'Belkommunmash' has presented a new universal model of a trolley bus. About 200 thousand dollars have been spent on its manufacture, the assistant of the general director 'Belkommunmash' Nikolay Kravchenko has informed a correspondent of the agency 'Minsk-news'. However it pays to produce that kind of trolley buses because this trolley bus consumes the electric power on the average for 55 percent less in comparison with todays vehicles, and expenses for its service are lowered for 80 percent. This model is very reliable and enduring.

For example, the body of the electric machine is made of everlasting composite materials. One more feature of a new trolley bus is the ability to incline automatically the landing place up to a level of a border. To make the trip of passengers comfortable the automatic system of maintenance of temperature or a climate-control is provided.

A new model of an electric machine full of passengers is capable to pass without electricity about five kilometers. It is possible due to capacitor banks.

A new trolley bus has a modern design: a streamlined form, windows made by glass-fiber material, two folding doors, lateral mirrors with telescopic management, spacious and convenient passenger compartment. There are 29 seats in passenger compartment, covered with the staunchest red material, 6 seats are convertible. In total a trolley bus can house 115 passengers. Thus dimensions of a trolley bus correspond to the accepted standards: length - 11 meters of 79 centimeters, width - 2,5 meters, height - 2 meters of 86 centimeters.

A Solemn Ceremony of the Five-stars Hotel 'Europe' Opening is Dated for City Day

Sun Aug 26 21:00:00 2007 GMT

A solemn ceremony of the five-stars hotel 'Europe” opening is dated for Minsk City Day. However, the hotel has already received the first guests - tourists from Russia. They could appreciate the hotel at its true value, its conveniences and its design in which the modernist style and functionality of modern house building are harmoniously combined, including the newest technologies and the equipment.

According to the administration of the hotel 'Europe', the hotel is completely ready to open and receive distinguished guests and tourists. It consists of 68 hotel accommodations. The personnel of the hotel amounts to more than 100 persons.

The Construction Of A Covered Freestyle Training Center

Sun Aug 26 21:00:00 2007 GMT

The construction of a new covered freestyle training center in Minsk is planned for the end of this year. The project provides for a swimming pool, three springboards, an aqua park with various water slides, a bath complex which will consist of saunas, Russian and Turkish baths, hydro-massage baths. Besides, the complex will include an amusement arcade, a billiard room, bowling and a bar.

The Construction of the First Belarussian Cinema Complex

Thu Aug 23 21:00:00 2007 GMT

The construction of the first Belarussian cinema with many cinema halls in Minsk will be finished in June in 2008, director general of enterprise “Kinovideoprokat” Vasiliy Koktish informed. There will be 5 cinema halls for 1.000 seats in a new modern cinema as well as stores, cafes, children café and play station.

According to Vasiliy Koktish there will be a lot of other cinemas of this type. In the near future a new cinema complex is planned to construct.

A Unique Project “Minsk-arena”

Thu Aug 23 21:00:00 2007 GMT

In Pobediteley ave. near the Belarussian State University of Physical Culture there will be constructed a unique project 'Minsk-arena'. Competitions in 26 kinds of sports, including bicycle and skating championships will take place at this multifunctional complex. Musical concerts and circus shows can also be carried out here. “Mink-arena” can seat an audience of 20.000. A construction of a new open parking for 1.080 car parking places is also planned here.

The Project of a New Tennis Centre

Thu Aug 23 21:00:00 2007 GMT

Architects of enterprise “Minskproject”' have worked out the project of a new tennis centre. The project is being properly coordinated now. The construction of the centre is planned in Orlovskaya Street near the entertainment park “Dreamland”. A new sports complex will consist of two buildings: in one of them there will be three courts, in the other one – four courts. There also will be a small hotel, a swimming pool, training gyms and a yoga hall.

Public and Business Center “Minsk-City”

Sun Aug 19 21:00:00 2007 GMT

Public and business center “Minsk-City” will be placed on two areas. The first one, the central, in the form of a platform, will be situated along the main transport artery of the center (Zhukovskogo Street). The main feature of this platform will be a 60-80 storied administrative building with a congress-hall, hotels and banks nearby.

The second platform will be at the crossing of streets Kazintsa and Chkalova. At this part “Minsk-City” will be a 50 storied building. A new trade center will be constructed nearby. The intention of architects is to maintain some old administrative buildings which are at the territory of “Minsk-City”. These buildings will organically become a part of the whole composition. The first task is to repair the building of airport “Minsk-1” which serves as a monument of architecture.

“Minsk-City” Project is Ready

Thu Aug 16 21:00:00 2007 GMT

The core of the complex, which will appear instead of Airport “Minsk-1”, will be a public and business center “Minsk-City”. The project is prepared by enterprise “Minskgrado” and it will serve as the territory of stores, offices, cafes and different establishments of culture. The center will be constructed between two streets, one of which will continue Chkalova street, the second one – Zhukovskogo Street (up to Kizhevatova Street). There will be a pedestrian boulevard with fountains, green plants, trees and flowers. Along the pedestrian boulevard there will be administrative office buildings and between them there will be multilevel garages and stores, social service buildings. Two new roads for automobiles will be placed in parallel with a pedestrian area on both its sides.

“Fauna of South America” in Minsk Zoo

Tue Aug 14 21:00:00 2007 GMT

A modern exposition complex “Fauna of South Africa” will be constructed in Minsk zoo. As the head of an educational department of Minsk zoo Alexander Stroganov has explained to a correspondent of agency 'Minsk-news', it will be a huge pavilion with a height of 14 meters and the area of 1.500 square meters. An exposition complex will be equipped with the modern system for inspection of animals and plants. There will not be any open-air cages; animals will be able to move freely. In the center of pavilion there will be a seven-meter waterfall. Citizens of Minsk will be able to walk through 'pampas of South America' very soon. The completion of this unique project is planned in 2008.

“Highscrapers” for Automobiles

Mon Aug 13 21:00:00 2007 GMT

In the near future the construction of multilevel parking will begin in the central part of the city.

The investor who will develop the land behind the 'Moscow' movie theater has already been chosen. A new business centre and a parking for 300 cars will be built there. The investor who should begin the construction of multilevel 150 car parking places in the block of Nemiga Street, Komsomolskay Street and Gorodskoy Val Street has already been attracted.

As the chief engineer of the enterprise “Garages, parking places and parking” Peter Prudnikov has informed, a new land for construction of parking will be soon put out to tender. There is also a parcel of land for 100 parking places in Engelsa Street not far from Muzicalniy Lane. A small parking for 65 parking places is planned to build in the building of the shoe factory which is on the crossing of Nemiga Street and Korolya Street, and one more for 300 parking places – at the territory of the factory.

'Stars' of Minsk hotels

Wed Jul 18 21:00:00 2007 GMT

Hotel 'Victoria' which has recently opened in Minsk has received the certificate of conformance of hotel services of a class “Four stars“. Earlier this category has been given to the hotel 'Minsk '. 12 hospitable capital institutions are three-star hotels, among which 'Planet', the complex 'Yubileyniy', the hotel of the Minsk international educational center.

Preliminary check of 12 more hotels of different departmental subordination is completed; five new applications are in the stage of consideration.

Classification of hotels on categories is based on a complex of requirements to a building and an adjacent territory, to the technical equipment, number fund, sanitary objects, premises for the feed, to rendered services, and also a level of preparation of the personnel, chairman of GosStandart Vladimir Koreshkov has explained.

Tomorrow of our city

Mon Jun 25 21:00:00 2007 GMT

Architects of Minsk and the Minsk region work above projects of 500 objects. Among them - a serpentarium for exotic reptiles in Minsk zoo, campus, a temple-monument, tennis courts near to the Central officer palace, informed the chief of engineer enterprise 'Minskproject' Valentine Leunenko. In capital architects 'Minskproject' try to solve a problem of housing construction. Now they design 12 inhabited micro districts - Colische, Druzhba-1, Kamennaja Gorkal-2, Masukovschina-5 and others.

'Germans' in the city

Sun Jun 3 21:00:00 2007 GMT

Daily, except for days off, 10 trams of German manufacture ply across Minsk. Oblong and capacious cars are the basic advantage of these trams. Therefore they run only in the week-days to provide transportations of greater streams of passengers.

Paints of summer

Mon May 14 21:00:00 2007 GMT

In the nearest future more than 30 thousand decorative flowers will appear at the territory of Mercy House. Except of long-term flowers, such as begonia and petunia, there will appear about 500 bushes. Claudia Tyntareva the deputy director of «Zelenstroy Pervomay area» told about it to the agency 'Minsk-news'. Besides it the decorative inscription «Pervomay area» there is made out on Logoisk road at departure capital. New beds will also decorate Kalinovskogo and Kozlova streets.

Cascade of fountains

Wed May 9 21:00:00 2007 GMT

Fountains saluted in front of the Minsk Culture and Sports Palace of railwaymen. This celebration is traditionally dated for the Day of Victory, as a symbol of memory and life. Specially to May, 9th all city fountains have cleared and reconstructed. Minsk authority organized a fair and celebratory concert with songs of the Second World War near the palace and performance of the State troupe of dance, the Main military wind band, the wind band 'Nemiga', amateur collectives and also young Belarus singers Victoria Oleshko, George Koldun and Dmitry Sergeev.

Poplar, but without down...

Wed Apr 11 21:00:00 2007 GMT

This spring specialists in capital landscape architecture are going to plant poplars alongside with traditional lindens, willows, maples and birches. As the deputy director of enterprise 'Minskzelenstroy' Alexander Tokarev has told to the correspondent of agency 'Minsk-news ', this kind of trees did not land in the city already more than two dozens years. Minsk citizens and municipal services dislike poplars because of down which scatter around Minsk in the beginning of summer. Now capital agronomists plan to land the Chinese poplar. According to the specialist, this is a tree with beautiful form, fast-growing, steady against pollution of the ground, capable to clear air from emissions. That is important as well, almost does not give down. While the small numbers of poplars have landed but if trees will strike roots will recommend themselves well, it is planning to land more in the future.

Vitamins for the whole year round

Wed Apr 11 21:00:00 2007 GMT

Vegetables and fruits will be sufficient to everyone. According to Minsk officials today there is almost 10 thousand tons of potato and over five thousand tons of beet, cabbage, carrot and other vegetables in the storehouses of the capital fruits and vegetables complexes. It is quite enough to provide Minsk with vitamin food stuff before harvesting

Flower enchanting spectacle

Mon Apr 9 21:00:00 2007 GMT

This year capital landscape-gardener promise to surprise visitors and inhabitants of Minsk with new colours. There will be violets on flower-beds in some weeks. The main agronomist of the enterprise «Flowers of capital» Victor Nazarov has told to the correspondent of agency 'Minsk-news' about it. These flowers grow up from cuttings, and they are intended for vertical decoration. Now there are placed in greenhouses on the area of five hectares, grow 2 million 300 thousand various flowers. For comparison, it has been landed 1 million 800 thousand flowers last year.

Children’s town to grow on beach

Tue Apr 3 21:00:00 2007 GMT

Reconstruction of the 4-th beach of Tsna pond will be completed in Minsk up to the end of this year.

According to the project, there will be installed six shower cubicle, plank beds-benches, shadow canopies are constructed, and additional container platforms are equipped. It is supposed to erect a small game town for children. There will be convenience to motorists as well: parking on 96 places, and– cycle path for bicyclists. At last considering wishes residents, through a large forest from street Miroshnichenko to the beach two foot paths will be laid.

Need for water grows

Sun Apr 1 21:00:00 2007 GMT

Minsk residents consume more and more water every year. It is planning to use almost 272 million cubic meters of water for needs of the population, the enterprises and the organizations this year. It is for 3 percent over, than last year. This date is incorporated in the forecast of social and economic development of the capital. The increase in volumes of use and dump of sewage is connected basically with growth of housing construction.

Today there are 16 underground and one superficial water-fence, 379 artesian wells in the city. An extent of water supply systems amount more than 2.599 kilometers.

Skyscrapers instead of airport

Thu Mar 29 21:00:00 2007 GMT

Minsk City is going to build skyscrapers... But only after the necessary conditions will be created for this purpose.

Today the highest building in capital is - National library - 72 meters. It is equated to the 22-storeyed house. In the near future it is planned to get the 90-meter lift.

The arrangement of airport 'Minsk-1' in the city boundaries did not allow increasing number of storeys for apartment houses in some areas. Andrei Gal, director of capital construction of Minsk informed.

- We have constructed some 16-storeyed houses in Loshica though their series allowed to erect 19, - the director told. - At the coordination of the design documentation numbers of storeys buildings have reduced, giving reason just that the absolute mark of height of the house which is regulated by presence in capital of the airport is exceeded.

Plans of authorities include carrying the airport over the city boundary per 2010-2011. Perhaps, then builders will get more opportunities to increase numbers of storeys residential buildings, Andrey Gal supposed.

Рresent to residents

Mon Mar 26 21:00:00 2007 GMT

Construction of two new stations of the first line Minsk underground in Uruchie microdistrict is executed for 80 percent. The capital enterprise 'Minskremstroj' informed that all tunnels are already completely ready. The construction of a platform and entrances at a station «Borisovskij path» are also finished. Painting and decorating works are conducted there: the platform is executed, it is necessary to paint a ceiling, are partially trimmed by a natural stone entrance halls and pedestrian subway. In the near future pavilions will start to mount above entrance groups.

The platform and entrances at a station 'Uruchie' are also constructed, painting and decorating have begun, four entrances are constructed.

It is necessary to note, that this year the updating program of a rolling stock of capital enterprise 'Minsktrans' is stipulated purchase of four new trains on five cars for service of two new stations.