News & Events in Belarus

MINSK, 2 September (BelTA) – Minsk will retain its boundaries and become a more comfortable place for residents. This is the conclusion of the report on the development prospects of Minsk and adjacent territories of Minsk Oblast delivered to Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko on 2 September, BelTA has learned.

“Minsk residents should be aware of the development prospects of Minsk and see the progress,” the President noted. The head of state asked about the city planning projects and ideas, gave a number of concrete instructions to speed up the construction of facilities, use funds rationally, and clean up certain territories.

The President was informed that the Minsk City Hall had prepared a new general city planning scheme. In particular, it envisages the stabilization of the Minsk population at 2 million and preservation of natural forests. It is expected that only one forested area covering about 2,000 hectares to the south-east of the artificial water reservoir Minsk Sea will be included in the city zone.

“There is a strict rule: you cannot use arable lands where grain must be grown. This is a right approach not only for the protection of lands. Minsk should be spacious and should breathe. If we erect more high-rise and other buildings around the Minsk ring road, the city will suffocate,” the head of state stressed.

Chairman of the Architecture and Town Planning Department at the Minsk City Hall Pavel Luchinovich noted that plans have been made to increase the area of the city to 54,000 hectares in accordance with the existing city planning scheme. In accordance with the new city planning scheme, the size of the city will remain the same within the Minsk ring road. At the same time, city developers think that the population of Minsk will rise by 100,000 to 200,000 by 2030. “We take it into account in our work and would like to accommodate these people in satellite towns,” the main architect of Minsk said.

Plans have been made to optimize housing construction volumes in Minsk. In accordance with the general city planning scheme, more social housing will be built on vacant territories. Residential housing complexes will be erected on former industrial territories and the territories where dilapidated low-rise buildings are demolished.

Plans have been made to lay out two city and district parks with the total area of more than 2,000 hectares.

Modern complexes with the recreation, administrative, sports, and residential infrastructure will be commissioned all over the city. The transport network of Minks, including the Minsk metro, will be developed. City developers also plan to build more car parks to unclog the streets of the capital city.

As for the production infrastructure, certain territories will be used to build manufacturing and investment facilities, develop technology parks and small companies in Minsk. Active construction of housing in the western and southern parts of Minsk caused the deficit of jobs in these areas in comparison with the city center. Therefore, the new city planning scheme will prioritize the development and transformation of production premises. Plans have been made to create about 40 new production facilities with 10,000 jobs this year.

“The capital city will be beautified, comfortable conditions will be created for its residents,” Pavel Luchinovich assured.

“Minsk is the face of our country. Let’s turn it into a good and beautiful city,” the President said.