Serious congestion in the movement of freight vehicles has been observed in recent days at the Red Bridge customs checkpoint on the Azerbaijan-Georgia border, APA’s local bureau reports.
Hundreds of trucks are reportedly waiting in line on the Georgian side in the direction of Marneuli.
According to the information, the queue of trucks stretches for several kilometers.
The Red Bridge customs checkpoint, located on Azerbaijan’s border with Georgia, is one of the region’s main freight routes. Hundreds of freight vehicles pass through it every day. In recent days, however, congestion of trucks has been observed on the Georgian side of the checkpoint.
The situation at the border particularly affects the work of drivers engaged in international freight transportation. According to them, waiting at the border creates additional risks for the goods being transported and additional costs for themselves.
The queue formed on Georgian territory is also affecting the movement of freight vehicles on the Azerbaijani side of the border. As a result, drivers have to wait for long periods to cross the border. The issue is not limited to the loss of time. Freight vehicles remaining on the road for extended periods increases fuel consumption, limits drivers’ opportunities to rest and extends the delivery time of transported goods to their destinations.
Driver Hasan Sarisoy says they waited for three days to enter the parking area in Georgia. They then had to wait in line for another four days at the parking area. According to him, drivers are facing difficult conditions on the roads: “There are many problems entering Azerbaijan. When we ask the reason, they say that the Georgian side is not working.”
Another driver, Ali Ayrica, says he spends most of his days on the road due to the long queues.
Some drivers cite increased security measures amid the Russia-Ukraine war and the diversion of transport flows to the Georgian route as among the reasons for the congestion.
Driver Huseyn Yanik, who says he has been traveling to and from Azerbaijan for 35 years, states that he has never encountered such difficulties during this period: “I have been traveling to and from Azerbaijan for 35 years. There have never been such difficulties until now. There are several reasons for this. The first reason is the war in Ukraine. Ships at sea are unable to transport trucks. That is why congestion has emerged on this side. When there is congestion, the need for states to take security measures comes to the agenda. If 100 vehicles were coming a year ago, now 500-1,000 vehicles are coming.”
Driver Mahammad Chayli is also dissatisfied with the situation on Georgian territory: “We have brought cargo here. We are suffering tremendously on the Georgian side. There are so many parking areas along the road, but there is a 20-kilometer traffic jam. If they cannot let us through, they should direct us to other border crossings.”
In response to an inquiry from APA-Economics regarding the issue, the State Customs Committee said that discussions had been held between the leadership of the Azerbaijani and Georgian customs services regarding the congestion of freight vehicles at the Azerbaijan-Georgia state border.
“Relevant necessary measures are planned to be implemented to eliminate the congestion and further accelerate border-crossing processes,” it said.
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