Saratov snow removal lacks millions for new equipment

After heavy snowfalls in early January and new snow on February 3, street cleaning has once again become one of the most discussed topics in Saratov. Despite active work by equipment on main roads, traffic jams form in the city, and in some places, snow that fell three weeks ago still lies.

In response to a query from the editorial office of 164.RU, acting deputy head of the city administration for municipal services Tatiana Rykhlova explained how winter cleaning is organized and whether resources are sufficient. The Saratov administration follows GOST standards, which set requirements for road conditions, and local Municipal Improvement Rules. These specify cleanup deadlines for streets of different categories depending on precipitation intensity.

Municipal organizations have about 270 units of main cleaning equipment on their books: plow-and-brush units, dump trucks, loaders, and tractors. The fleet is regularly updated. However, according to officials« calculations, about 330 units of special equipment are needed for efficient operation during heavy snowfalls. To eliminate this deficit and create a reserve, the administration estimates that 500–550 million rubles (approximately $5.6–6.1 million at current rates) in targeted funding is required.

The staff of organizations involved in cleaning numbers about 500 people. The pre-tax salary for general workers is 40,000–50,000 rubles (about $444–556 at current rates), while drivers of special equipment earn 65,000–80,000 rubles (about $722–889 at current rates). During periods of intense snowfall, additional workers are hired under temporary contracts, and personnel from contracting organizations are brought in, Rykhlova reported.

Work is conducted around the clock, and employees promptly respond to citizens« requests for additional cleaning, the official assured. A final assessment of the winter cleaning work in Saratov is planned to be given after the season ends.