RUSSIANS seem decidedly cool toward President Dmitry Medvedev's proposal to cut the number of time zones in the country from 11.
Officials have heaped praise on the idea, but academics and bloggers are perplexed by what they call its lack of rationale.
In a speech two weeks ago, Mr Medvedev said that reducing the number of time zones would increase economic efficiency, but
did not say how many zones might remain.
His proposal has met with criticism from academics.
Nikolai Kasimov, dean of Moscow State University's geography faculty,
said: "The world exists. It rotates. There are 24 time zones ... and our country fits into that system. Let someone explain why we need to do this. I don't understand it."
Those who back the move for the world's largest country – which accounts for a ninth of the landmass – say it would allow closer synchronisation of economic activity, creating savings in energy and banking.
But many are sceptical. "This is the first time I have heard the economic argument," said Vyacheslav Baburin, a professor at the Moscow university's department of economic and social geography.
The main disadvantage is seen as more hours of dark during the nine-to-five working day in the east. If the time was brought forward, the sun would rise long before the start of the working day and set before it ends.
"It is better physiologically to get up when the sun rises and sleep when it's dark," Rinad Minvaleyev, a physiologist at St Petersburg State University, said.
Many internet users oppose the plan. "The president will just create a new problem, as if we don't have enough," said Anatoly Grachev, on the Kremlin's official blog.
Another, Alexei Shcherbakov, asked: "What will this give to the simple residents of Russia who do not have any dealings with Moscow?"
But Far Eastern officials are in favour of a time shift. The Amur region governor, Oleg Kozhemyako, said local officials often have to stay up until 2am to work with colleagues in Moscow.
"It's mad," he complained.
