The modernisation works of the first stage of the border crossing point (BCP) “Grebņeva”, started in August 2022 under the management of SJSC “State Real Estate” (SRE), have been completed. Four new control pavilions have been constructed to improve the permeability of the flow of border crossers, says Jelena Gavrilova, a Member of the Board of SRE.
The modernisation works of BCP “Grebņeva” were carried out by SIA “Delta Construction”. Within the framework of the first stage works, the contractor built four new control pavilions, which provide modern work spaces meeting the requirements of the European Central Entry/Exit System for a road customs and border guard worker of the BCP. In the new pavilions, infrastructure will be provided for the installation of biometric data acquisition and verification equipment, as well as for the more efficient flow of border crossers. The works were carried out while ensuring current border crossing permeability for trucks.
“SRE has been entrusted with managing various projects related to national security and the modernisation of its infrastructure. We are proud of the fact that in 2022, in cooperation with the Ministry of the Interior, we have not only started the active construction of the Eastern border, but also completed the construction works or their parts in several BCPs. Since the beginning of the hostilities in Ukraine, we feel additional responsibility to not only implement projects related to national security on time, but also to provide modern premises and infrastructure to the employees of the State Border Guard and the State Revenue Service (Customs) as quickly as possible,” says J. Gavrilova.
“The modernisation of the border crossing point “Grebņeva” is an important project for ensuring appropriate and modern working conditions for border guards and customs officers, for the introduction of new technological data exchange solutions. This allows for the more efficient management and control of border crossing flows, thus strengthening the security of the national border. Taking into account the fact that Latvia's border is also the external border of the European Union and NATO, we implement modernisation measures in cooperation with other European Union countries as well. I would like to express gratitude to all our cooperation partners for their significant support in the implementation of national security projects in the current critical geopolitical conditions,” emphasises Dimitrijs Trofimovs, State Secretary of the Ministry of the Interior.
The construction costs of the first stage of the project amounted to almost 931 thousand euros (without VAT), which will be covered from the state budget funds – implemented by the Internal Security Fund 2014-2020 programme project No. IC/IDF/2020/6 “Implementation of the Entry/Exit system and ETIAS”. Continuing the modernisation works, it is planned to also build a new passenger bus control terminal in the BCP by 2027, as well as perform other modernisation works of BCP infrastructure.
In 2022 SRE has completed the 1st stage modernisation works of the Latvian-Belarusian BCP modernisation project. The final modernisation works in the project were carried out in BCP “Pāternieki” and “Silene”. Within the framework of the project, a new approach to border and customs control was introduced, making it more efficient and faster. In the construction project of the eastern border, the permanent fence is currently built in the amount of approximately 30 km. Whereas, at the busiest border crossing point between the Republic of Latvia and the Russian Federation, Terehova, the modernisation works of the first stage will be completed in early 2023, and the designing works for the construction of the terminal for the control of passenger luggage will be finalised by spring.
Maintenance of objects important for the security of Latvia and the European Union and the development of borders is one of the directions of SRE activity. In total, approximately 120 million euros will be invested in the modernisation of border crossing points and borders under the supervision of SRE from 2019 to 2027. The largest modernisation project is the construction of the Eastern border. After the implementation of the projects, by the end of 2027, comfortable and modern working conditions will be available to the staff of border control points, and the infrastructure necessary for border control and customs control will be improved, making border crossing more efficient and faster.
