The Russian leadership directed a careful review of travel charges for the newly opened M-12 Vostok highway, which links Moscow with Kazan. The announcement came through the Kremlin press service, signaling that officials will prepare bids within a month as part of a government-led analysis of tolls. This step appears to be driven by local resident concerns and input from regional commercial operators who expect pricing to reflect real road usage and regional economic needs. The government, with the involvement of the state company Avtodor, has outlined a process to assess current travel tariffs on the Moscow to Kazan stretch and to propose tariff levels that balance accessibility with the maintenance and expansion of the highway network. (Kremlin press service)
Officially, the government states that the Task includes gathering viewpoints from residents across the relevant federal entities and from businesses that rely on the corridor. The proposals are to be collected and then submitted for consideration to the president, with a target deadline noted for March 15, 2024. The mechanism aims to translate public feedback into practical tariff strategies that could influence traffic flow, revenue, and regional development along the route. (Kremlin press service)
The M-12 Vostok corridor stretches a total of 1,980 kilometers, extending from Moscow through Kazan toward Yekaterinburg and Tyumen. This segment is identified as a major component of the international route known as Russia, a key artery in the national road system. Current plans anticipate extending the highway to reach Yekaterinburg within 2024 and to extend further to Tyumen by 2025, enhancing the country’s eastward linkage. (Kremlin press service)
In the specific Moscow to Kazan portion, the highway spans about 810 kilometers. Construction on this segment was completed seven months ahead of the original schedule, a milestone that speaks to the efficiency of project management and modern road-building techniques. The anticipated impact on travel times is notable: a road trip from Moscow to Kazan is expected to drop from around 12 hours to approximately 6.5 hours, a change that could reshape commuter patterns and tourism. Officials anticipate that the new route will likewise contribute positively to the economies of twelve adjacent regions as traffic grows and logistics improve. The highway officially opened to traffic on December 21, 2023, marking a significant upgrade to regional connectivity. (Kremlin press service)
In announcing these developments, Putin’s administration stressed the importance of evaluating toll costs for the M-12 Moscow to Kazan segment. The goal is to ensure pricing aligns with the new travel realities created by the highway, supporting sustainable use while balancing user costs with the needs of regional development and federal budget considerations. (Kremlin press service)