According to the newspaper, three of nine Moscow Agglomeration concept tender participants were disclosed Monday by Alexander Vysokovsky, Dean of the Higher School of Urbanism.

French architects Antoine Grumbach et Associes has come up with the highest estimate of EUR187bn. The cost includes government facilities, transport infrastructure, housing, secure communication lines, and utilities. The architects based their assessment on the current 800 thousand population of the new territories, expected to double.

Spain’s Ricardo Bofill budgeted some EUR 100bn only for the government center and its infrastructure. A.A.Chernikhov Design Bureau based their EUR 86bn estimate on 1,45mn new workplaces to be created in Greater Moscow.

Russian government and Town Hall officials declined to comment. According to a high-ranking Mayor’s Office source, Moscow has yet to calculate the new territories budget, which will be “a horror to imagine”.

The source said if the authorities have to be relocated fast, it would require colossal investment, forcing the city to cut other programs. This year’s Moscow budget is slated for RUB 1,46 trillion.

According to Vedomosti, the only official estimate is that the 3,5 mn square meter government center will cost RUB 350bn, a maximum RUB 100k per square meter. These costs will be recouped by renting property currently occupied by the bureaucrats in old Moscow. The new buildings do not include lodging, social and transport infrastructure that will cost USD15-32bn, according to experts.

Project Group №5