Traditionally, on the second Sunday of August, representatives of the most peaceful profession – builders – celebrate their holiday. On the eve of Builder's Day, Deputy Governor of the Murmansk Region Olga Vovk, Acting Minister of Construction of the region Alexandra Karpova and General Director of the regional Capital Repairs Fund Yulia Barsukova held a press conference on the roof. Representatives of the construction industry openly answered 15 questions from journalists.

And the first of them concerned the implementation of master plans.

"Following the results of the International Arctic Forum, a number of instructions were given as part of the implementation of master plans. They outline all the key objects: this is a world-class campus, and the construction of new schools and a regional children's hospital, and the modernization of an adult regional hospital. And there are many such objects, but everything depends on federal funding. Therefore, the regional government and the governor of the Murmansk Region are systematically working on the inclusion of each object in the 2026-2028 budget. For example, we have already received confirmation for the campus," Olga Vovk noted.

The Vice Governor emphasized that large-scale housing construction projects are being implemented through private financing. Developers call master plans a reference book, which specifies which plots are free, what encumbrances are on them, and the conditions for technological connection. Currently, the possibility of developing plots where emergency housing is located to replace it with new buildings is being discussed with developers. Today, 20 buildings with a total area of 83 thousand square meters are being built in Murmansk and Kola. Of the 1,794 apartments put on the market, 369 apartments have already been purchased, which is 20%. A total of 4,000 apartments in new buildings in Murmansk and Kola will be put up for sale.

Answering a question about the renovation of closed administrative-territorial entities, Olga Sergeevna noted that the program is unique for the country. Thanks to the support of Russian President Vladimir Putin, federal financing has been extended until 2030. A comprehensive plan is currently being developed, but it is already clear that the volume of activities and financing will be maintained.

"We managed to obtain federal funding thanks to the concerted efforts of the government, the construction industry and municipalities. I will be honest, the 2025 plan has already been fulfilled by 70%," said Olga Vovk.

Against the backdrop of the increased volume of construction in the Murmansk Region, the question of construction materials was logical: where are they supplied from and are there any plans to revive their production in the region.

"There are more than 20 manufacturers of construction materials in the region, so the need for concrete, for example, is covered by local manufacturers. However, given the increase in construction projects and large-scale plans for the construction of residential buildings, we are working with local manufacturers on the possibility of increasing the volumes and range of construction materials. Opening a new production facility, based on today's volumes, is not yet profitable. This will require certain subsidies from the federal budget," explained Alexandra Karpova.

Answering a question about the "Own Home in the Arctic" program, which was modernized this year, the acting head of the Ministry of Construction of the Murmansk Region noted that the excitement remains - 225 northerners have received support from the state to fulfill their dream of their own home. Let us recall that the program was initiated by the head of the region Andrey Chibis as part of the strategic plan "Living in the North!", and 1,147 individual residential buildings have already been built or purchased under it, 582 citizens have already registered their ownership rights in the unified state register of real estate for buildings with a total area of more than 50 thousand square meters.

We talked with the general director of the Murmansk Region Capital Repair Fund Yulia Barsukova about the principle by which buildings are selected for capital repairs and how colors for facades are determined, as well as how many buildings still need to be put in order.

/ Ministry of Construction of the Murmansk Region /