ArmInfo. The Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation is working at a faster pace to increase the throughput of checkpoints, including the Upper Lars checkpoint on the Russian-Georgian border. TASS reports, with reference to the press service of the state department of the Russian Federation.
The Ministry noted that by July of this year, an additional 12 lanes will be introduced, by the end of the year another 12. Thus, the total number of lanes at the Upper Lars checkpoint will reach 39. More than 120 people are currently involved in the reconstruction of the checkpoint.
According to the source, there are now about 900 trucks on the way out of Russia towards Georgia, the average clearance time of which does not exceed 2-3 days. The Ministry of Transport explained that earlier, up to 1.5 thousand cars passed at this checkpoint during the peak periods. "To date, the measures taken have made it possible to increase the throughput of the checkpoint to 2.3 thousand vehicles, of which 1.1 thousand trucks," the report says.
The former Georgian military road through the checkpoint "Upper Lars" since the beginning of the1990s has become the only land route that provides communication between Armenia and Russia. The checkpoint is periodically closed - in winter due to avalanches, and in spring due to mudflows.
It should be noted that recently the Ministry of Economy of Armenia in June of this year announced the launch of a regular ferry service from the Georgian port of Poti to the Russian port of Caucasus. The state intends to subsidize this ferry service, at the same time as the South Caucasian Railway (SCR) will reduce tariffs (by 30%) towards Russia with a link to the Eurasian railway system. According to Economy Minister Vahan Kerobyan, the Russian (by 50%) and Georgian (by 25%) railways will also reduce tariffs.
"With this decision, the government is launching regular rail links with the EAEU railway system, which will connect Armenia not only with Russia, but also with other EAEU countries, in particular Belarus and the countries of Central Asia. As a result, we believe that trade with these countries and the non-European part of Russia will increase significantly>, he said.
