At the meeting, Sergei Sobyanin – who formerly served as the government's chief of staff – reported to Putin on his work for the last half year.
"I have looked over the figures of the past six months, and, overall, they are positive. Industrial production has shown a considerable growth," Putin praised the mayor for addressing successfully the issue which drew his criticism half a year ago.
The two officials' previous private meeting had occurred on December 31, 2010, shortly after Sobyanin's appointment as the city mayor. Last December, Sobyanin – who had inherited the city's numerous problems left after previous mayor Yury Luzhkov – mentioned that the city's industry's growth had slowed down, indicating only a 4% increase in the past year.
Now, he said, the industry rate has increased by 12%.
According to Sobyanin, under his government Moscow residents' lives have been improved, with the average salary reaching almost 40,000 roubles, the transport issue about to be settled, and the city's boundaries to be expanded farther into the Moscow Region, the mayor said.
"In a couple of days, together with the regional government, we are introducing the decision on the current boundaries, plus additional territories, into the Federation Council. Particularly, the region is transferring to us the additional 500-hectare area for housing construction near the town of Lyubertsy," Sobyanin noted with satisfaction.
"As we all know, Moscow is suffocating within its current boundaries. The long-awaited decision on expanding the city's territory will hopefully give a stimulus to developing the local construction industry," Putin said to make it clear what he expects from the city government.
Sobyanin assured the prime minister that he plans to construct both housing and roads. The Moscow Ring Road is about to be reconstructed, with all design documentation to be completed by the end of the year, the mayor said. The project will be finished within three or four years, he added.
The issue of city transport, both surface and underground, particularly aroused Putin's concern. Sobyanin reported with satisfaction that the trolleybus and bus fleet will be replaced almost in its entirety. However, speaking of the city metro network development, the mayor put on a sadder face.
"Unfortunately, the initial stage has been very hard. We are replacing the subway car fleet with new cars. The metro's Ring Line will be served by up-to-date trains equipped with air-conditioners. This is already a big step up," Sobyanin elaborated.
Putin and Sobyanin finished the official part of their meeting speaking of the territorial issue, yet they did not say a word about the idea of relocating all government agencies outside the Moscow Ring Road.
According to Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov, at their private talk that followed the official part, the two paid particular attention to the city health sector issues and transport network expansion. However, he said, they did not discuss the idea of relocating all government agencies and organisations.
"No specific decisions have been made so far, so there is nothing yet to discuss with the prime minister," Peskov emphasized.
Anastasia Novikova