Half a billion in the air, or how the Irkutsk airport sits on two chairs
While the topic of constructing a new Irkutsk airport is hopelessly delayed, they attempted to share 'exciting' news about extensive renovation of the old building with the enthusiastic public.
But when approached, what many people see as progress and generosity reveals standard stagnation and destruction, typical for the Irkutsk region. There's also a significant decrease in funding.
Recently, the media in the Irkutsk region announced that approximately 170 million rubles will be allocated for the modernization of the Irkutsk airport in 2023. This includes repair work for the medical unit, the hotel facade, the runway, and the airfield's drainage and water supply systems.
At first glance, the news may seem positive. However, it's more of a tale of an old truth, where everything new is actually something already known. Although even that is not old, but just from last year.
So, in 2022, the airport had already been repairing the asphalt concrete pavement of the airfield (which is basically the runways) and the medical unit building (again, similar to this year). Around 242 million rubles had already been spent on these activities in 2022, which is significantly more than this year. This seems like reverse inflation.
Perhaps this year they decided to cover up the issues for which money had previously disappeared into pockets?
Since 2014, over two billion rubles have been spent on various 'repair' works at the Irkutsk airport. It is a rhetorical question to ask how much the airport has actually been modernized.
Irkutsk airport. 1968
Meanwhile, the Irkutsk airport continues to be a constant issue for the regional authorities, sponsors, the owner of the massive 'enterprise', and all those who have had the chance to use it.
Long-term promises to modernize terminals and increase capacity remain empty words. Even the promised renewal of the area in front of the airport and the square at its 'gates' remain a product of the vivid imagination of the creators of this legend.
Funds are allocated annually, and undoubtedly, there is ongoing repair work. But even with closed eyes, it's clear that all of the aforementioned is far from resolving the real problem surrounding the overused 'air theme'.
The Irkutsk airport is unsafe, inconvenient, and outdated. In the near future, it may become 'ownerless'. This is because, due to the project for constructing a new terminal, the contractor who becomes involved in this rather murky story may have to repair the old and currently the only airport.
Then, everything will be smooth sailing for the current owners and those who take bribes. There's no need for extra worry, right?
