The head of the local administration spoke about what Bolbasovo will become and how the urban settlement is being improved
Today, the urban-type settlement is actively being improved. This instruction was given by the President during his visit to the Orsha Aircraft Repair Plant in July. He demanded that all planned work, outlined by the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee a year ago, be completed by November 7 – from the entrance sign to housing stock and the social sphere. There are two months left until "hour X". At what stage is the large-scale construction and what will the urban-type settlement, which has taken over from Kopys, become? This is discussed in an interview with the chairman of the local settlement executive committee, Gleb Gulenkov.
– Gleb Leonidovich, when did the work start and, in your opinion, how justified is the attention to such settlements as Bolbasovo?
– The urban settlement of Bolbasovo is 90 years old. Previously, it was called "military town No. 20". In 1995, the settlement was reclassified as civilian. Currently, 3,827 people live here. The majority are of working age. While in Kopys, the head of state announced that one or two settlements in each region should be improved annually. Following this, in October 2017, the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee decided that the urban settlements of Ezerishche and Bolbasovo would be these settlements. In November of last year, the first meeting was held, where tasks and deadlines were set – November 2018. A plan of measures, which initially included 69 items, was developed jointly with the Orsha District Executive Committee. It was based on the wishes of local residents and our own experience. A lot of time was spent on design. The expertise of some projects has only just been completed. The issue of final financing was also resolved after a long time. To date, about 60% of the funds allocated by the regional budget have been utilized, with the involvement of funds from enterprises and foundations.
A total of 7.5 million rubles will be allocated for the improvement of Bolbasovo, of which 2 million are additional funds allocated by the President's order.
This is the amount we lacked to improve the courtyards, sidewalks, container sites, outdoor street lighting, and the entrance to the urban settlement.
Undoubtedly, the state's attention to settlements like Bolbasovo is fully justified. They must develop. This requires not only improvement and support for the social sphere but also the creation of new jobs, production facilities, and housing construction. For example, the first and only rental house was built in the urban settlement in 2016. Thanks to this, young specialists have stayed here. Future plans include new housing and new prospects for young people, which will open up upon the completion of the logistics complex construction.
– What has already been done in terms of the social sphere?
– By the beginning of the academic year, the school and kindergarten were commissioned. In the school, designed for 650 places and not fully occupied, the vacant premises were allocated for the senior groups of the overcrowded kindergarten. This is how the issue of rational use of funds was resolved. In the two educational institutions, windows were replaced, the facade and fencing were renovated, and the territory was improved. Cosmetic repairs were carried out inside the premises. The roof was repaired at the school. The equipment in the canteen was completely replaced, and the sports hall was put in proper order.
350 thousand rubles are being allocated for current repairs with modernization of the district hospital. External work and landscaping have already been completed. Cosmetic repairs of internal premises with equipment replacement are also nearing completion.
The repair of the central square near the House of Culture cost 40 thousand rubles. Now there is video surveillance here. Seats have been purchased for the auditorium, and the stage will be updated very soon.
The central stadium has been brought into proper condition. People are not indifferent either: a church is being built with funds from parishioners.
Fiber-optic lines are being laid throughout the urban settlement. The installation of 1.5 km of heating networks with partial replacement of pipes has been completed.
– As far as I know, the funding sources and the scope of work for the improvement of the central street of Sergei Gritsivets have already been determined.
– Yes, the largest street in Bolbasovo (about 1 km), named in honor of twice Hero of the Soviet Union Sergei Gritsivets, is actively being improved today. 1.2 million rubles will be spent here. The replacement of the road surface, reconstruction and construction of sidewalks, taking into account modern requirements – with bike lanes, have already begun. The project includes the construction of turnstiles and walking areas. The appearance of the main recreation area near the aviation monument – a Tu-16 aircraft – will change. In the park area, lighting will be replaced, small architectural forms, paths for walking and cycling paths with parking, benches, workout equipment, and a playground for the little ones will appear.
Two playgrounds for toddlers and teenagers will be built in Bolbasovo at a cost of 30 thousand rubles.
There is interest from private businesses to open a cafe in the currently vacant building in the park area.
– It is pleasant to see that the local authorities care about the memory of the heroes whose names are borne by the streets of the town, who died in the line of military duty…
– The monument to Sergey Gritsevets has been faced with black and red granite by the efforts of the Bolbasovo village executive committee. With the help of the Orsha special motor transport base, repairs were carried out at the military burial site in the Bolbasovo cemetery. These are the graves of flight crews. The fencing has been completely replaced, paved paths have been laid between the graves, gravestones have been repaired, and inscriptions have been restored.
There is a plan to decorate the end walls of five five-story buildings at the entrance to Bolbasovo with billboards depicting five pilots – Heroes of the Soviet Union, natives of the Orsha region.
By the way, last year, 350 meters of sidewalk with curbs were repaired on Molodezhnaya Street at the expense of the Bolbasovo village executive committee. This year, it was completed. Small architectural forms have been put in order, unused structures have been demolished, saplings have been planted, and trees have been cultivated.
– Are all yard areas covered by improvement works? Will old apartment buildings be repaired?
– All yard areas, except for those that do not need it (near new houses), will be repaired. This includes sidewalks, entrances to stairwells, as well as widening of driveways that are designed for only one car.
New parking spaces will also appear. Previously, this was a problem in Bolbasovo.
A major overhaul of four residential buildings and a dormitory is underway. Routine repairs will cover 17 apartment buildings. This is 10% of the housing stock of Bolbasovo.
– Are environmental measures included in the plan?
– Absolutely.
The construction of a water de-ironing station, which has not existed until now, is planned.
It is already practically ready for commissioning. Two artesian wells have been repaired. According to the project, the treatment facilities will be closed. And sewage will be transferred to Orsha through pumping stations. A scheme for solid municipal waste management has been developed. Container sites have been improved.
In general, much has already been done and a lot remains to be done. We will manage by November 7. But the improvement of the urban settlement will not end there.