The Moscow government has decided to tear down numerous structures erected without a proper authorization at the All-Russia Exhibition Centre, or VVTs, RIA Novosti reported Monday.
"The work has begun. The objects are being actively dismantled," the head of the capital's real estate inspectorate, Sergei Shogurov said.
He said that after investigating 461 facilities within the VVTs limits and on adjacent territories, the inspectorate discovered more than 150 violations of the real estate legislation, which included illegally built cafes, shops, fences and parking lots.
The inspection was undertaken following an order by Mayor Sergei Sobyanin.
City Hall wants to renovate the sprawling VVTs in northeastern Moscow and restore it to its Soviet era status as a park and expo center after recently receiving a controlling stake in the project from the federal government.
The 240-hectare Stalinist style complex, formerly known as VDNKh and now commonly referred to by its newer acronym VVTs, was originally designed to showcase Soviet achievements. The capital's authorities have said they were examining the prospect of restoring the old name to the center.
