You're reading: BelTA: Expansion for Novaya Guta checkpoint at Belarusian-Ukrainian border

GOMEL, 16 May (BelTA) – The border checkpoint Novaya Guta at the Belarusian-Ukrainian border will be expanded. The information was released by Mikhail Myatlikov, Deputy Head of the Gomel Customs House, on 16 May. The border checkpoint is in the area of responsibility of the customs house, BelTA has learned.

The official said that the money to develop the reconstruction design documents in 2013 had been allocated already. Construction operations are supposed to start in 2014. No details regarding the changes are available yet. BelTA has learned that the number of traffic lanes will be increased and additional service buildings will be erected. It is possible that the budget of the Customs Union of Belarus, Russia, and Kazakhstan may be used to finance the work.

The reconstruction is necessitated by the fact that the existing throughput capacity is insufficient for vehicles and citizens to cross the border quickly. At present the border checkpoint can process up to 1,640 cars, 200 trucks, and 40 buses daily in both directions. But every day the border checkpoint clears up to 400 trucks. The workload is particularly high during summer vacations when citizens are intent on travelling to Ukraine for recreation.