MOSCOW. Jan 28 (Interfax) - The Russian Audit Chamber and the Federal Agency for Development of State Border Facilities (Rosgranitsa) insist on round-the-clock operation of the Verkhny Lars checkpoint on the Russian-Georgian border, Izvestia said on Monday.
"Trade may grow significantly if restrictions on agricultural transit across Georgia and on Russian imports of Georgian commodities are lifted," the newspaper quoted a report of Audit Chamber Chairman Sergei Stepashin.
The document presented to the Russian government in January 2013 indicated that the checkpoint was overloaded by 76% in terms of motor vehicles and 9% in terms of passengers.
"The problem can be resolved with 24/7 operation of the Verkhny Lars checkpoint, which will nearly double its capacity," the auditors said.
Border guards supported the round-the-clock operation of the checkpoint.
"Motor traffic through the checkpoint nearly doubled in 2012; about 2 million vehicles crossed the border last year. Georgia cancelled visas for Russians in the beginning of 2012 and the traffic intensified," spokesman of the Federal Security Service's North Ossetian border department Alexander Solod told Izvestia.
Verkhny Lars is ready for 24/7 operation all year round, Rosgranitsa told the newspaper.
"Bearing in mind the complex climatic conditions, Rosgranitsa proposed experimental round-the-clock operation of the checkpoint only from June 1 through September 30, 2013. Then the checkpoint work will be evaluated and a decision on the expediency of 24/7 work will be made. The new working hours of Verkhny Lars will be set in the exchange of international notes, on condition of Georgia's consent," the source told the newspaper.
Georgian officials told Izvestia they did not mind round-the-clock working hours, but a final decision would be made by the local government.