‘Sverdlovsk Region has been trying to contribute to making Yekaterinburg a better place. We have already allotted 1 billion RUR for building road junctions this year, with another billion to be invested in 2008,’ says Governor of Sverdlovsk Region Eduard Rossel.

‘The city is going to get environmental police responsible for a number of issues, including the state of the roads. The police will comprise 500 officers who will monitor the performance of local housing and maintenance companies. In case their cleanup efforts have little or no efficiency, these companies will be fined,’ the Governor explains.