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Russia to build new crossing point on Kazakh border for trains from Tajikistan

In order to improve border control on Russia-bound trains from Tajikistan, the crossing point needs to be moved closer to the external border of the Customs Union

MOSCOW, April 15 (Itar-Tass) - The Russian Border Guard Service will build a new crossing point on the border with Kazakhstan for Russia-bound trains from Tajikistan.

Border Guard Service First Deputy Director Vladimir Mochalov said at a meeting of the State Border Commission on Monday, April 15, that the Aksaraiskaya-1 Station crossing point in southern Astrakhan Region, visited recently by Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, would be reequipped with new communication and border control technologies and systems.

However, he stressed that in order to improve border control on Russia-bound trains from Tajikistan, the crossing point needs to be moved closer to the external border of the Customs Union.

“I suggest that the Transport Ministry, together with Russian Railways, the Federal Agency for the Development of State Border Facilities, and interested executive bodies of Astrakhan Region, prepare and submit proposals on the construction of a new railway station near Maly Aral on the border and opening of a border crossing point there,” Mochalov said.

The border crossing point is several dozen kilometres away from the actual border. “This section is most vulnerable and is used for unloading or hurling away different goods and cargoes, and for picking up stuff on the way back,” he explained.

There are places along this stretch where trains move slowly or stop, he said and asked Russian Railways to revise the traffic schedule to make sure that trains run along this section only in daytime.

“We also ask you to allow trains to stay at Aksaraiskaya Station longer so that we could examine them more thoroughly,” Mochalov said.

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