Amendments to federal budget will affect passenger river transportation

State Duma deputies adopted the draft federal budget for 2024–2026 in the second reading. As Parliament Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin noted, amendments to the second reading of the budget will further support the regions, including the revival of passenger river transportation. The third reading of the country's primary financial document draft is scheduled for November 17.

Vyacheslav Volodin said that the amendments consider the proposals that deputies discussed this summer during off-site meetings of the State Duma Council.

“We proposed, along with the extension of benefits for shipbuilders and the introduction of VAT preferences for river passenger transportation, to ensure the allocation of at least 1 billion rubles annually for preferential leasing of small river vessels for intraregional passenger transportation,” said Vyacheslav Volodin.

Let us remind you that in Bashkiria, the Belsky District of Waterways and Shipping is responsible for 919 kilometers of inland waterways, including 607 kilometers with navigation equipment and guaranteed dimensions for the navigation. To develop passenger tourist shipping in the republic, a guaranteed two-meter depth of navigation is maintained on the Belaya River, the Bashinform News Agency reported. Since last year, multi-deck ships carrying tourists began to enter the republic.

Deputies will also consider the extension of the state program for the socio-economic development of the Kaliningrad region until 2030, the implementation of the development program of the Republic of Karelia, as well as support for the Cosmonaut Training Center.

For the development of the Kaliningrad region, funding of 72.9 billion rubles is provided for three years. Russian President Vladimir Putin gave this instruction. According to Vyacheslav Volodin, the region, due to its location, experienced the most pressure from Western sanctions.

5 billion rubles will be allocated to support the Cosmonaut Training Center, funding for critical areas of social policy, industrial development, ensuring technological sovereignty, education, and science will be increased by 138 billion rubles, 6 billion rubles will be spent on purchasing medicines for patients with cardiovascular diseases, more Expenditures on children's recreation and health improvement will be increased by 3 billion, and over 26 billion rubles for 2024–2026 will be additionally allocated to the comprehensive development of rural areas.

Author: Eduard Kuskarbekov