Transport operators from Turkey and Greece seek alternative corridor to bypass Bulgaria

Because of congestion at border crossings, there is a risk that road haulage companies from Greece and Turkey seek an alternative corridor to bypass Bulgaria. This became clear after a 44th General Assembly of the Union of Road Transport Associations in the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Region (BSEC-URTA), held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, at which they discussed an alternative transport corridor out of our country.

That is why on September 4 Bulgarian freight carriers met with the Transport Ministry team. Talks ended without result.

At the meeting of the Union of Road Transport Associations in the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Region in Tashkent, Bulgaria has been severely criticised for transport chaos at the border crossings and long queues of trucks. The Chamber of the Bulgarian Road Hauliers has repeatedly issued warnings and proposals for faster passage of the flow of cargo, but so far to no avail.

According to the Border Police, around 3,500 heavy goods vehicles pass through the Kulata-Promakhon checkpoint in a 24-hour period. At peak times, on average, the crossing takes about an hour, which authorities say is normal.

"I don't think there is any chaos here. The traffic is organised by the customs, three scales for trucks in each direction, with us it is done in two lanes. But in the summer, freight traffic decreases here, which allows us to reduce the lanes for trucks to let traffic of cars through. After all, this is a border check point, inspections are carried out, by the NRA, customs," said Senior Commissioner Stoycho Trayanov - deputy head of "Kulata" chekpoint.

Truck and lorry drivers are of a different opinion:

"It has always been chaos. Here, at "Kulata" sometimes there is, sometimes there is not, but at the other borders Vidin, Ruse - I just feel sorry for them! Schengen! If there is no Schengen, we can't get better. Well now, at the moment, I'm carrying the post and I'm delayed. The delivery should be at 9 o'clock, and look at the time now, an hour and a half I'm in the queue", says Yordan.

BNT: Is there traffic chaos at Kulata in your opinion?

Lazar - truck driver from North Macedonia: How can I tell you, I would say there is.

Alex - truck driver: Every day is different, sometimes there are queues.

An official position of the Union of Road Transport Associations in the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Region stated that since August this year the Bulgarian authorities have reintroduced the disinfection of vehicles procedure at the checkpoints Kapitan Andreevo and Lesovo, which further increases the waiting time for crossing the border.

At the meeting on September 4, caretaker Transport Minister Krasimira Stoyanova committed to the road haulers that she will work on the problem. She has informed them that she will hold talks with other ministries on the issue in order to prevent international transport operators bypassing Bulgaria.