New Mountain Resort Complex To Draw More Tourists To Russia's Black Sea Coast

A mountain tunnel in Greater Sochi (a city on Russia's Black Sea coast) is to be commissioned on Saturday, December 15, says Sochi Mayor Leonid Mostovoi. About 2,400 kilometers in length, this tunnel will be the longest one in Russia. According to Mostovoi, its construction is part of a project to build an international mountain resort at Krasnaya Polyana, outside Sochi. Roads are already being laid here and electrical power and gas lines installed. The concept of a modern mountain resort was elaborated this past summer. It was then submitted to the federal government for consideration. On the Russian Olympic Committee's request, Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov undertook to personally supervise the project. The Austrian AMR company, in association with Canada's Ecosign, is conducting feasibility studies for it. The construction costs are estimated at 10 to 15 billion dollars.