PM Azarov: Ukraine interested in Vienna's urban transport experience
KYIV, November 8 /UKRINFORM/. Ukraine is interested in the experience of Vienna in the field of public transport and its operation in big cities, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said on Thursday at a meeting with Vienna mayor Michael Haupl, held within the Ukrainian-Austrian Business Forum Kyiv-Vienna to mark Vienna Days in Kyiv.
"You have a very well organized work of transport. There are no traffic jams like in Kyiv. I think the experience of Vienna can be quite interesting for us," Azarov emphasized.
He said that over the past two years Kyiv has built and put into operation five subway stations, purchased 700 buses and trolley buses, tram fleet was significantly upgraded, there are five bridges across the Dnieper River and six are being built, but this still does not solve the problem of traffic jams in the capital.
"Historically, the industry and office and administrative centers are concentrated on the right bank, and the left bank - this is the so-called bedroom communities that predetermine the constant movement of people to and from work. Now the authorities are actively building interchanges, and in the future - another branch of subway to the left bank," said the prime minister.
In turn, the mayor of Vienna Michael Haupl noted that the business forum Kyiv-Vienna is dedicated to urban development. Also, the agreement on friendship and cooperation has been in effect between the cities for 20 years, and in July 2012 the cities signed a memorandum on the deepening of this cooperation, which provides for intensification in different areas, "good governance in the city."
"I think that we as partner cities, sister cities can learn a lot from each other," said Haupl.
As reported, Vienna Days are taking place in Kyiv on November 8 on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations and the signing of a cooperation agreement between the capitals of Ukraine and Austria.
The Bohdan and Varvara Khanenko National Museum of Arts on Thursday, Nov. 8, will host an exhibition "The Austrians in Kyiv". The program of events for that day, involving Chairman of Kyiv City State Administration Oleksandr Popov and Vienna mayor Michael Haupl, includes the transfer of Austrian literature to the Austrian Library of the Vernadsky National Library of Ukraine, as well as a visit to the Ilarion Ohiyenko Specialized School No. 115 in Solomensky district where the sides are due to sign an agreement on cooperation in the field of education between Kyiv and Vienna.
