Customs attache: The reason for the congestion at the Upper Lars  checkpoint is low throughput

ArmInfo.The reason for the congestion at the Upper Lars checkpoint is low throughput. Aram Customs attache: The reason for the congestion at the Upper Lars  checkpoint is low throughputTananyan, customs attache of Armenia at the Upper Lars checkpoint,  said this in a telephone conversation with an ArmInfo correspondent.

He explained that due to a significant increase in the flow of goods  from Turkey to Russia, the checkpoint on the Russian-Georgian border  actually cannot withstand the load. Tananyan informed that, for  example, in Sarpi, on the Georgian-Turkish border, about 700 trucks  are idle. "Judging by the fact that they are not allowed into  Georgia, the whole of Georgia is crammed with trucks, which means  that several thousand vehicles are literally standing still. During  the day, about 430-450 trucks and about 700 cars drove from Georgia  to Russia". According to the customs attache, this is quite a large  number compared to the capacity of Upper Lars: 100 trucks, 100 cars  and 30 buses in one direction. "We see how much this overestimates  the design possibilities," he said. In this regard, Tananyan said  that in order to overcome the current situation, the Russian customs  services are working in an enhanced mode. <They switched to a 12-  hour work duty schedule, which is very difficult. But there is no  other way," he said.

At the same time, the Armenian representative drew attention to the  fact that all countries, except Armenia, can leave Georgia via the  Azerbaijani Red Bridge in the direction of Russia to Dagestan.  However, about 600 trucks have accumulated on the Red Bridge, which  indicates the closure of roads in Azerbaijan.  " In short, the flows  are going off scale and will continue to increase, including in  connection with the organization by the Russians of their holidays in  Georgia," Tananyan said, noting that the highest intensity of flows  should be expected from June 1.

Besides, a certain role in the congestion of road traffic was played  by the cessation of ferry traffic by a number of companies, in  connection with the situation in the Black Sea (Ukrainian-Russian  conflict, in connection with which drifting mines are found in the  sea, ed. note). According to Tananyan, in view of the mentioned  developments, some companies had difficulties with the ferry  crossing, so exporters and importers rely on road transport from the  point of view of safety.

According to him, at the moment, there are discussions with the  Russian customs services on the subject of increasing the throughput  capacity of the Upper Lars checkpoint. In particular, Tananyan  recalled the plans of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian  Federation to modernize the Upper Lars checkpoint, as a result of  which 26 additional lanes for cars and 13 for heavy trucks will be  established at the checkpoint by the end of the year.

He noted that the share of Armenia in the accumulation of cars by the  Russian side is about 20%, and the share of  Georgia - about 10%.

It should be noted that for the second week at the checkpoint "Upper  Lars" there has been an accumulation of several thousand trucks.  According to various estimates, up to 3,000 trucks from Armenia,  Georgia and Turkey are expected to enter Russia. Losses due to  downtime are estimated at an average of 600-700 euros per day.  It  should be reminded that Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan made a  statement in connection with the situation a week earlier. He said  that work is underway to create a separate corridor for Armenian  trucks. In addition, in June of this year the Ministry recently  announced the launch of a ferry service that will connect the railway  system of Armenia with the Eurasian one.