On June 03, 2013 the Government of the Russian Federation introduced changes into the procedure for organizing and conducting state expert examination of design documentation, as well as the procedure for verifying the properness of calculations for the estimated cost of facilities whose construction is being financed using state monies.

These changes are aimed at reducing the administrative barriers when performing construction, as well as at attracting new technological solutions into the industry.

The adopted decree will allow making changes in design documentation that has already undergone approval, as pertains to technological solutions, materials and procedure for organizing construction, without holding a second state expert examination, which should help substantially cut construction time and will also stimulate the use of new technologies.

It should be noted that if changes are made to design documentation for facilities being financed from the federal budget, such changes must not increase the estimated cost of such facilities.  Otherwise the properness of calculations for the estimated cost will need to be reviewed again.

We should also note that changes have been made in the procedure for holding state expert examination of design documentation that are aimed at stimulating investments in road construction.

Now works on preparing the territory for road construction are deemed to be a separate phase of construction. It is assumed that such works will be performed separately from the construction, based on independent contracts, which will allow to fully clear the site and to provide it to the investor in a state needed to immediately commence construction works.

Decree No.377 of the Government of the Russian Federation “On introducing amendments to the Regulation on arranging and conducting state expert documentation of design documentation and results of engineering surveys” dated 27.04.2013

Decree No.470 “On amending certain acts of the Government of the Russian Federation” dated  03.06.2013

Additional notes

Should any questions arise in connection with the above or if you need any additional materials, please contact Julia Antipova, St. Petersburg Office of Capital Legal Services.

This Information letter keeps the clients of the Capital Legal Services and other interested parties abreast of information that may, to any extent, affect their activity or cater to their particular interests. The opinions and commentaries expressed in this Information letter shall not be deemed as legal opinions.