Rostov Metro (russian: Ростовский Метрополитен) is a planned

rapid transit Rapid transit or mass rapid transit (MRT), also known as heavy rail or metro, is a type of high-capacity public transport generally found in urban areas. A rapid transit system that primarily or traditionally runs below the surface may be ...

system in Rostov-on-Don,

Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-eig ...

. , the city authorities were redesigning the historical proposal (created in the 1980s) at the request of the federal government. Construction was to begin no earlier than 2016 if the federal government had approved financing of the project.

History

Plans for creating a Rostov metro go back to the 1970s and 1980s. A publicised 1991 map of a system provided a single 14 kilometre line with 10 stations, running parallel to the northern bank of the

Don River The Don ( rus, Дон, p=don) is the fifth-longest river in Europe. Flowing from Central Russia to the Sea of Azov in Southern Russia, it is one of Russia's largest rivers and played an important role for traders from the Byzantine Empire. Its ...

and reaching

Rostov-on-Don Airport Rostov-on-Don Airport (russian: Аэропорт Ростов-на-Дону) ''Aeroport Rostov-na-Donu'' was an international airport located east of the city of Rostov-on-Don, in southern Russia. It was one of the largest airports in the ...

; far future plans provided for a three line system. The plans were revived in November 2007 when the Rostov Metro reappeared in the development program for rapid transit approved by the

Ministry of Transport A ministry of transport or transportation is a ministry responsible for transportation within a country. It usually is administered by the ''minister for transport''. The term is also sometimes applied to the departments or other government ag ...

. The program required Rostov authorities to redraft the old proposal, taking account of past and projected development in and around the city, so that construction ''could'' resume in 2011. No other commitments were ever made. In April 2008, the Rostov city hall announced an upcoming feasibility study that would supersede the old studies conducted in previous decades. In January 2008, the deputy mayor of Rostov estimated construction costs at 1 billion

roubles The ruble (American English) or rouble (Commonwealth English) (; rus, рубль, p=rublʲ) is the currency unit of Belarus and Russia. Historically, it was the currency of the Russian Empire and of the Soviet Union. , currencies named ''rub ...

(42 million US dollars) per kilometer; the total project cost, including land and supporting infrastructure, would cost three times more. In September 2008, the mayor of Rostov formed a city commission for metro construction. The deputy mayor announced that in November 2008 – February 2009 the city would select design and engineering contractors; the preliminary design stage for the metro would last into 2011. In 2011, the city hall was expected to have sound cost estimates for initiating a federal funds appropriation. City officials expected the first stretch of the Rostov metro to be operational in thirteen to fourteen years, assuming ''normal'' financing from the federal budget. However, due to a lack of funding, it is unknown when the construction of the metro will start.

In fiction

Ruslan Melnikov's novel, ''Murancha'', takes place in Rostov Metro after a nuclear war. The book, part of the

Universe of Metro 2033 ''Metro'' (russian: Метро) is a franchise consisting of novels and video games, which began with the release of Dmitry Glukhovsky's ''Metro 2033'' novel in 2005. Although it began in Russia, the project enjoys plenty of popularity in Poland ...

, takes some liberties from the reality, as the subway system is halfway ready by 2013, when the war breaks out. The in-story explanation is that Rostov mechanical plant, Rostselmash, had to switch from agricultural to mining equipment as a result of financial crisis, and the metro was dug with its products as a sort of advertising campaign.Melnikov, Ruslan. ''Murancha''. Astrel.

References

{{coord missing, Rostov Oblast Underground rapid transit in Russia Proposed public transport in Russia Buildings and structures in Rostov-on-Don Cancelled rapid transit lines and systems Transport in Rostov-on-Don