The Moscow municipal authorities are thinking out ways to ease the traffic pain and frustration for millions of the capital's citizens. Some projects will put people on boats.
      
      Under the ambitious plan for the period between 2007 and 2009, the city will spend some 23.6bn roubles to cut the load of the existing transportation, buy new buses, introduce new routes and even new modes of transport.
      
      In particular, the Moskva river will carry some 300 passengers along each of the routes. Earlier, the Moskva river was expected to transport the participants of the 2012 Olympics, but the right to conduct the Olympic Games 2012 went to London.
      
      Each route will operate around 12 catamarans running every 5-10 minutes at a speed of 35km per hour and capable of carrying up to 50 people. The innovation, as experts predict, is likely to be extremely popular with tourists.
      
      The general trend is to make public transport more comfortable for Muscovites. The authorities plan to buy 2720 new buses, meeting Euro 3 environmental standards, 400 trams and trolley cars, and construction of four new trolley lines.
      
      The total tally of 23.6bn roubles will be made up by 15bn roubles earmarked by the city, 1.2bn roubles are expected to come from the Mosgortrans company, a major operator of public transport in the city, and private investments worth 7.3bn roubles.