Revitalization of Shushi under way

PanARMENIAN.Net - With its recently initiated reconstruction of Garegin Nzhdeh and Alec Manoogian streets, two main thoroughfares in Shushi, NKR, Hayastan All-Armenian Fund has begun to restore the city's economic and social infrastructures. The street-revitalization project is being realized through contributions made by the Russian-Armenian community during Telethon 2009.



Following the construction of sewage, water-delivery and drainage systems, the streets and sidewalks (about 950 meters) will be paved and furbish, and light posts will be installed throughout. The project will be completed with the installation of 1.5-meter-wide lawns separating the streets from the sidewalks, Hayastan All Armenian Fund said in a press release.



"Prior to the launch of this project, the people of Shushi no longer believed that things would turn to the better in their city," said Grigori Avanesyan, director of the Shushi Administration's Urban Development and Architecture Department.

"These streets in particular had long fallen into disrepair. There is a great deal of bustle in this part of the city. Residents frequently use the telephone station and the bank or visit the cultural center, whereas up till now the streets remained in a terrible state."



Alec Manoogian Street is also home to the fire station and the much-visited, 1847-built Hovhannes Mkrtich Church, better known as the Green Church because of the color of its dome.



"This year our main goal is to implement a number of projects aimed at helping Shushi stand on its feet," said Ara Vardanyan, executive director of the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund. "I hope that our revitalization efforts will go a long way in strengthening Shushi residents' bond with their city, and not be limited to the Fund initiatives only."