Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee Alexander Kosinets demanded to more actively develop roadside service

The well-known subprogram “Five Hundred” for 2011-2015, within the framework of the Regional Program for Innovative and Investment Development of the Vitebsk Region, has remained an exclusive project of the Pridvinye region all these years – the only one in the republic and quite successful.

Nevertheless, at the meeting of the regional executive committee held on September 25, dedicated to the development of roadside services, the chairman of the regional executive committee, Alexander Kosinets, demanded immediate adjustments to the subprogram from responsible persons regarding the formation of this infrastructure.

The chairman of the regional executive committee emphasized the important role of roadside services for the socio-economic development of the Vitebsk region, as well as for the geopolitical and tourist attractiveness of the region and the country as a whole.

A detailed review of the situation is as follows.

As reported by the Deputy Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee, Anatoly Diulin, the region has currently met the standard for placing roadside service facilities on republican roads with a distance of 50 kilometers. Work in this direction is being carried out within the framework of the republican program “Roads of Belarus” and the subprogram, according to which 100 service facilities are to be opened and operational by the end of 2015.

Currently, 343 gas stations, technical service stations, retail outlets, parking lots, and other facilities are operating on the highways in the region, which is double the figure from six years ago. Over the past four years, 67 out of 100 roadside service facilities have been built and reconstructed on the roads of the Vitebsk region. In 2014 alone, mini-cafes were commissioned in the Polotsk district on road R45, a cafe of Vitebskobleneftoprodukt on R3, a parking lot on the Vitebsk-Orsha highway, and gas stations in the Polotsk and Tolochin districts. Eight more facilities are under construction and reconstruction.

Under the program “Roads of Belarus” , the region is overfulfilling its target, and although this is the case, there are still a number of unfinished items, for example, the construction of gas stations in Vitebsk and Beshenkovichi districts.

In general, the experience of the enterprise “Belneft-Vitebskoblnefteprodukt” , which has 42 roadside service facilities on its balance sheet, 15 new ones commissioned in the last four years, and 89 jobs created, has been noted. Moreover, gas stations are being built with a twist, in accordance with international standards, ensuring accessibility for people with disabilities as well.

Life does not always bring the expected results. For example, last year, retail trade turnover at roadside service facilities in 11 districts of the region decreased compared to 2012, amounting to 96.4 percent. This year, it was necessary to re-equip 25 facilities, but this work has only been completed at seven...

In general, as noted by A. Diulin, the roadside service network in the region has been mainly formed since 2010, but its development should continue not only through expansion. It is important to improve the quality of service for road users, which is possible through the provision of comprehensive services.

This moment is key to organizing roadside services and ensuring their quality and profitability, which is why Alexander Kosinets demanded amendments to the current plan. Firstly, the “equation” turned out to have more unknowns than it should. “In 2013, the volume of paid services rendered through this network amounted to 7 trillion 313 billion rubles. Why is there no forecast data for the current year, when will the invested financial resources be recouped?” — A. Kosinets requested information. Secondly, he emphasized that it is too early to talk about a formed roadside service network in the region, as long as there are examples like the Grigorovshchina — Verkhnedvinsk — Polotsk — Vitebsk — Liozno highway, where roadside amenities are not established, or the Minsk — Moscow, Orsha — Vitebsk intersection, where a parking lot, gas station, and cafe “Vstrecha” are located at a distance from each other. “If a real trade and logistics center is created here, where everything will be combined into a complex,

then the name will also be different — “The Meeting Place Cannot Be Changed”, emphasized the head of the region.

Behind this image, in fact, lies an absolutely necessary structural approach to the development of integrated roadside facilities, their coherence, rather than dispersion. A good example is in Begoml, at the entrance to the region from Minsk.

In the border areas, as emphasized by Alexander Nikolaevich, long-haul truck drivers, for example, should feel comfortable in our region, so that they spend their money here, not in neighboring regions. Regarding comfortable travel on our roads, Alexander Nikolaevich clearly raised the issue of opening currency exchange offices. He also stressed that a well-thought-out facility structure includes not only a cafe, hotel, and gas station, but also a medical center, car rental, parking, and perhaps even a pavilion for local residents selling garden or forest produce, and souvenir shops. Special attention should be paid to advertising the facilities – smart, professional advertising about the advantages of the facility, which in turn should serve as tourist advertising for the region, its natural and historical attractions.

The construction of a roadside complex requires 18–23 billion rubles. Another task set is to search for funding sources and work clearly with investors who should understand that the region is not building "huts" by the roads, but standardized complexes.

We are to open 41 roadside service facilities by the end of the year. And all this is being done for the attractive image of the Vitebsk region and, naturally, for our economic benefit, emphasized the head of the region.

The meeting of the regional executive committee was attended by the Assistant to the President of the Republic of Belarus – Chief Inspector for the Vitebsk Region, Nikolai Sherstnev, and the Minister of Sports and Tourism, Alexander Shamko.

The issue of fulfilling the projected indicators for the first nine months of the current year was also discussed.

Natalia KRUPITSA, "Vitbichi".