The density of Moscow population fell overnight from 10,7 thousand per square km to 4,6 thousand.

Expansion of the Russian capital was initiated by then-President Dmitry Medvedev on 17 June last year. The President said then that new territories would host the executive and legislative branches of Russian government, as well as Moscow International Financial Center offices, which would ultimately become a major traffic relief for ‘old’ Moscow.

In June last year, Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobianin and Moscow Region Governor Boris Gromov forwarded to the President their proposals on the annexion of 144 thousand hectares to the Southwest of Moscow, between Minsk and Warsaw Highways. A further 16 thousand hectares were added later, stretching Moscow to the border of the Kaluga Region, however the final draft stated an additional 148 thousand hectares.

In December, following approval by the Moscow and Regional parliaments, the plans were passed by the Federation Council, but before the new city limits were made official, the Moscow City Duma had passed a law offering independence guarantees to new territories’ municipalities, and protection of interests to the owners of dachas in the process of redevelopment of the Larger Moscow.

The Mayor’s decree founded two new administrative districts – Novomoskovsky and Troitsky, governed by one prefecture headed by Alexei Chelyshev, former Head of the Southwestern Borough. Another decision by the Mayor was to set up the New Territories Department in the City Planning and Construction complex, headed by ex-Deputy Chairman of the Moscow Region Government Vladimitr Zhidkin.

Moscow’s former 125 municipalities have now been replaced by 146 districts: 125 municpalities, 2 boroughs and 19 towns. The city now includes Troick and Scherbinka boroughs, towns of Vnukovskoe, Voronovskoe, Voskresenskoe, Desenovskoe, Kievskij, Klenovskoe, Kokoshkino, Krasnopahorskoe, Marushkinskoe, Mihajlovo-Yarcevskoe, Moskovskij, Mosrentgen, Novofedorovskoe, Pervomajskoe, Rogovskoe, Rjazanovskoe, Wapovskoe, Filimonovskoe and Sosenskoe.

LARGER MOSCOW CONSTRUCTION

It is expected that in the future the federal executive bodies will be joined in New Moscow by the Federation Council, the State Duma, the Presidential Executive Office, the Attorney General’s Office, the Investigation Committee, the Audit Chamber, the Supreme Arbitration Court, the Moscow Federal Arbitration Court, 9th Arbitration Appeal Court, the Supreme Court and the Moscow City Court.

The vacated government buildings in the center of Moscow could possibly be converted into hotels, according to Mayor’s Deputy in charge of Construction Marat Khusnullin.

The city authorities have also said that the new territories will not undergo massive redevelopment, and builders will concentrate on low-rise houses.

Head of Moscow Architecture Committee Alexander Kuzmin said at a May press conference that the authorities intend to put a leash on construction in the new territories. “If we manage to cancel many development plans for the new Moscow, we will consider it a success”, he said. Kuzmin also stated that the dachas will not be affected. “We will keep it all as is, we do not aim to demolish”, he said.

SOCIAL AND TAX BENEFITS FOR NEW MUSCOVITES

The new territories will receive better social care. Sobyanin says that social service salaries on new territories will rise 30% from 1 July. Pensions will go up several thousand roubles to include city bonus, and will hit a minimum of 12 thousand roubles. New territories are entitled to all Moscow benefits, including communal service fees. If certain categories of Moscow Region benefit holders get higher pensions, service fees will remain as they were.

There are over 70 thousand benefit holders in the new territories.

From 1 July, the Moscow education system is joined by 105 schools. 33 of these, in Troitsk and Sherbinka remain municipal, others will be managed by the Southwest branch of the Moscow Education Department. There are also 20 hospitals, 94 cultural and several social service facilities in the new territories.

Many New Muscovites can look forward to their taxes cut from 1 July. Land tax for plots allocated for private residence, gardening or farming, as well as dachas will be 0,025% (0,3% in old Moscow). This will become a tax relief in 24 of 29 new towns. Also, private property tax is lowered for many new Muscovites.

SAME TRANSPORT FARE

From 1 July, the fare for most buses in the new territories will remain unchanged. According to Moscow Transport and Road Department, the new territories have 60 commercial routes and 60 state-owned, serviced by Mosgortrans and Mostransavto. Out of 40 Mosctransavto services, 8 will be reassigned to Mosgortrans. These routes will receive Euro-4 and Euro-5 grade eco-buses, 2-3 hour day breaks in service will be cancelled, the number of buses will increase 20-40%.

“Other carriers’ services will remain unchanged: same routes, same intervals and fares”, according to Moscow Transport and Road Department.

New Moscow roads will be serviced by the Housing and Repairs Department with a budget of RUB 200nm from the city’s reserve fund.

Meanwhile, the city metro is slated to reach Kommunarka region, where government bodies will be located.

Project Group №5