KIEV, July 18 – Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has urged the heads of regional state administrations, the Ministry of Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Utilities and the State Agency of Automobile Roads of Ukraine (Ukravtodor) to tackle delays in the development of transport infrastructure.

Opening a government meeting in Kiev on Wednesday, the prime minister said more than UAH 1 billion had been transferred to the regions out of a total of UAH 2.1 billion provided from the state budget for the improvement of transport infrastructure.

In the first half of 2012, the authorities spent only a third of the budget funds provided for the construction and repair of public roads and streets, the premier said.