Authorities want to expand the area for Sochi Olympiad objects by 45 percent

On February 16, Larissa Zavedeeva, first deputy head of the Territorial Administration for enforcing powers of preparing the Olympiad, told at the sitting of the Regional Olympic Headquarters that the land area allotted for placing Olympic structures in Sochi will be increased by 45 percent that makes additional 6500 hectares.

Earlier, it was reported that the Sochi Olympiad will deprive at least 5000 persons of their houses. The authorities speak about 1900 land plots with houses. Only about one third of them are located in the Imereti Valley. The others are in Krasnaya Polyana (Red Meadow) and Central and Hosta Districts of the city. Alienation of these private land plots will be needed for building roads and communications. So far, the owners do not even suspect about these plans.

Ms Zavedeeva said that this area increase is a result of updated borders of Olympic objects and infrastructure. As she said, 90 objects out of 181 are completely provided with the required land.

"A decision was made to confiscate 423 land plots with total area of 1433 hectares. The resettlement zone covers 377 dwelling houses, including 37 multi-apartment ones, where 2333 persons now live," the "ITAR-TASS" quotes Larissa Zavedeeva as saying.