I. Metshin: "What we see now is a very worthy start."

      The Mayor of Kazan held a working meeting at water infrastructure facilities as part of the concept "Kazan - a city on water"

      Today, the Mayor of Kazan, Ilsur Metshin, inspected the progress of implementing the concept "Kazan - a city on water." During the working tour, the city leader assessed the new docking infrastructure at the Family Center "Kazan," the launch of pontoons on the Kremlin embankment, and examined the renovation progress of the Lokomotiv peninsula, where updates to the yacht and sports infrastructure are being prepared.

      Photo: Marat Muginov

      A new format for urban transportation at "Chasha"

      The development of the coastline is one of the priorities of a large-scale program to create modern water infrastructure in the capital of Tatarstan. "Our great wealth and one of the main attractions of the city is that Kazan is situated on water. Unfortunately, there are not many places where residents can comfortably use this resource. I am glad that our agreements with the investor quickly moved into the practical phase, and we are already seeing the first results worthy of the capital of Tatarstan. We will continue to support this project. What we see now is a very worthy start that instills confidence: this year we will be able to provide a completely different level of comfort for the leisure of Kazan residents and guests of our city. Safe travels!" said Ilsur Metshin. The project for creating docking facilities for water transport is being implemented by the company "Flotilia Kazan." The first inspection point was the site at "Chasha." "Our task is to create conditions not only for private small vessels but also for regular communication between the banks of the Kazanka River. We plan to integrate river trams into this network to connect the right and left banks of the city," said project investor Alexey Karchevsky. A 90-meter pontoon designed to accommodate 25 vessels has been operating here since May 1. Next, a pontoon for mooring a riverboat and a river tram is planned to be equipped. The pontoon will be designed for two spots: one tram will dock directly at the pontoon, and the second will dock alongside the first. The project is focused on developing water transport for passenger transportation between the riverbanks, as well as water excursions. Preparations for the season were intensive: the main welding and installation work for the pontoons was carried out in winter. This allowed for the prompt installation of structures in the water area. According to Alexey Karchevsky, demand for water transport was high immediately after the launch. Services are used by both city guests and Kazan residents. About 30% of visitors to the docks are interested in water routes to the Kremlin embankment. In three weeks of operation, even considering the temporary suspension of navigation during the "Russia - Islamic World: KazanForum," more than 2,000 people used water transport services.

      Kremlin Embankment: creating a transport hub

      The development of water infrastructure goes far beyond the site at "Chasha." An important stage will be the formation of a full-fledged transport hub on the Kremlin embankment. Three pontoons are planned to be installed in the area of the Lenin Dam, each serving its own purpose. The first pontoon for small passenger vessels was installed on May 18. The second pontoon is intended for servicing river trams and forming sightseeing routes along the Kazanka and Volga rivers. The third pontoon, which is planned to be installed next year, will be responsible for mooring private boats. The company plans to expand the geography of routes. In addition to sightseeing excursions along the Kremlin embankment, there is a possibility of organizing regular communication with the island-city of Sviyazhsk, where work is also underway to build docking infrastructure. "We strive to ensure that residents and guests of Kazan not only stroll along the embankment but also see the panorama of the city from the water," notes Alexey Karchevsky. "We want water transport to become a natural part of the urban environment. Tourists and residents will be able to moor, leave their vessels, and head to restaurants or for a walk without worrying about parking." According to the investor, the city needs "river parking" no less than car parking. "The city needs both ground parking and those located on the river. Our task is to master this market. This direction is actively developed in Moscow and St. Petersburg; we want not only to adopt this experience but also to become an example of successful implementation of such a strategy," noted Alexey Karchevsky.

      Lokomotiv Peninsula: yacht club and sailing school

      The next stop of the tour was the Lokomotiv peninsula, where the renovation of the "Prizma" yacht club is currently underway. Some work on the site has already been completed. As part of the first phase, about 500 meters of floating pontoons with 350 parking spots have been installed, lighting and safety systems have been mounted, and a pedestrian zone along the water has been arranged. Construction of the yacht club building with a cafeteria and landscaping of the adjacent area, as well as greening of the space, is currently ongoing. Additionally, specialists have restored the historic staircase with columns built in honor of the launch of the Kuybyshev Reservoir. As noted by the director of the "Prizma" yacht club, Rinat Arslanov, the facility was in a dilapidated state. The second phase of renovation will include expanding the parking by about 60 spots and creating an additional walking area. The yacht club also plans to equip a space for model boat enthusiasts, a viewing platform, and a relaxation area by the water. After the work is completed, the area should become a full-fledged public space with access to the water and sports infrastructure. "We agreed on transforming Lokomotiv. And I am glad that our agreements are being fulfilled at a good pace. This place is for all lovers of leisure on the water in Kazan. It is important that the transformations we see are worthy of the capital. We always ask businesses: everything that is done should correspond to the high title of the capital of Tatarstan. This is a good example of how our common goals are being realized, and the water infrastructure is becoming comfortable, safe, well-maintained, and beautiful. Keep it up, we will support!" assessed the city leader the progress of the renovation of the Lokomotiv peninsula.

      Next to the yacht club, the renovation of the territory of the "Aviator" sports school is underway. The main preparatory work has already been completed at the site: the area has been leveled, land and water areas have been cleared, asphalting and greening of the territory are in progress. The installation of fencing has begun, and the metal frame of the future school building has been delivered to the site. The landscaping is planned to be completed by the end of May. The project provides for the creation of a modern base for the sailing school with classrooms, workshops, changing rooms, and a boathouse for storing yachts. The area will be adapted for training and competitions, ensuring the necessary sports infrastructure and access to the water. The off-site meeting was attended by the deputy head of the Kazan executive committee, Ildar Shakirov, the heads of the Vakhitovsky and Privolzhsky districts, Albert Salikhov, the chairman of the Committee on Land and Property Relations, Renat Galyautdinov, the director of the MBU "Institute for Urban Development," Alexey Gorbunov, the chief architect of Kazan, Ilysiar Tukhvatullina, and others. Anna Sadaeva