Prime Minister Vladimir Putin visited Snegovaya Pad residential construction project, future home to military servicemen and families
The prime minister saw architectural models of the apartment blocks to be built by 2010.
Colonel-General Vladimir Filippov, Deputy Defence Minister and head of the accommodation service, said that the new residential neighborhood will have 4,880 apartments for military servicemen by 2010. He also cited the concern that the area has no social infrastructure and is situated a long way from grocery and other stores.
Mr Putin, in turn, said he and the region's governor, Sergei Darkin, had agreed on building the necessary social services in the area. "We will build a school, an outpatient clinic and a child care centre," Mr Putin said. "And a sports centre please," Mr Filippov requested. "And a sports centre," the prime minister agreed after a few moments' thinking.
In Mr Putin's words, the federal government will allocate 3.5 billion roubles from the funds saved this year for these purposes. He also instructed Mr Darkin to meet with business leaders to discuss building retail infrastructure in the neighbourhood.
The Prime Minister was also shown one of the apartments to be used by servicemen's families.
