Zhvachkin: loans for 20-25 years are needed to build a campus

TOMSK, Dec 18 – RIA Tomsk. The implementation of the project to build Tomsk inter-university campus require introducing the concept of "campus" into the legislation of Russia to enable the creation of a complex modern environment, as well as to attract loans for a period of 20-25 years, the regional administration's press service reported citing Governor Sergey Zhvachkin.

Earlier it was reported that in 2019 the authorities of the Tomsk region and VEB.RF signed an agreement on the construction of a modern campus in the region for 20 thousand students. Its total cost is estimated at 35 billion rubles, about 15 billion of which the region expects to receive in the form of a grant from the budget of the Russian Federation. The object is to be located on the left bank of the Tom near Tomsk on a plot of about 400 hectares.

The concept of the campus was presented by Zhvachkin during an online meeting with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin, reports the press service. The head of the region recalled that it is planned to attract financing from the federal and regional budgets for the implementation of the project, as well as borrowed funds from an investor. One of the obstacles may be the discrepancy between the future campus and current legislation.

"We need to legitimize the concept of "campus" in legislation at the government level, because according to today's standards, we will not build a complex modern environment for students, but a typical dormitory... As part of the campus, we plan to build rental housing for teachers and graduate students with families, and here solutions are required on the possibility of lending not for 15, but for 20-25 years (for investors)", - Zhvachkin is quoted.

It is added that the Deputy Prime Minister positively assessed the project and invited Zhvachkin to head it. Khusnullin instructed the Ministry of Construction, Housing and Utilities and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation to prepare a roadmap of the project.

It was also reported that out of the total area reserved for the campus, 52 hectares belong to the Tomsk developer "Karyeroupravlenie" ("Quarry Management"). In the draft regional budget for 2021, the authorities pledged 600 million rubles for the purchase of private land. The need for costs is explained by the fact that the campus project is currently a key one for the region, capable of attracting large investments.