Riga, Nov 8 (LETA) - Riga municipality has earmarked EUR 7.3 million for winter maintenance of pavements, Riga City Executive Director Janis Lange told a press conference today.

The funds have been set aside on the basis of 53 snow days. However, he admitted that these are forecasts based on past experience and adjustments can be made to these calculations due to weather conditions.

Lange believes that the municipality is prepared for winter. For the first time, the municipality plans to carry out centralized cleaning of pavements on all municipally owned streets in winter. Property owners will have to clean their own driveways, entrances and courtyards.

Lange urged citizens to be understanding and to expect that during heavy snowfalls there may be travel difficulties and it will take some time for the streets to be cleaned.

He told LETA that he plans to continue the practice of introducing so-called blizzard tickets on Riga's public transport during heavy snowfall forecast, which would allow drivers to leave their cars at home and use public transport in Riga free of charge.

According to the Riga City Council communication department, Hagberg will maintain 1,065 kilometers (km) of pavements with no less than 40 equipment units, and the municipality will maintain 162 km of pavements in the historic center of Riga and its protection zone with 26 equipment units.

This year, the maintenance of streets in Kurzeme district and Zemgale suburb will be carried out by the association Roadeks Un LAU, in Latgale suburb and Centre district - by the association of persons Eco Baltia Vide and CBF L-KO, in Vidzeme suburb and Northern district - by Vizii Urban, while the maintenance of bridges will be carried out by Rigas Tilti for a certain period after the results of the negotiation procedure.