Duma deputies concerned about public transportation

Although the main parameters of the federal budget have already been agreedto, it is necessary to allocate funds for the financing of public transportin the 2003 budget, Gennady Raykov, leader of the Narodny Deputat (People'sDeputy) faction in the State Duma, declared in Moscow today. According tohim, "it is necessary to help regions buy new automobiles", as thedeterioration of public transport has reached a critical level. At the sametime Frants Klintsevich, deputy head of the Yedinstvo (Unity) faction, saidthat public transportation needed urgent and planned renewal. "TheYedinstvo faction raised a question about the so-called 2003 problem twoyears ago. This period is a peak year for deterioration of differentequipment and technical facilities. This may cause man-made disasters andincidents and lead to human losses", the deputy specified..