Despite the increase in border-crossings, the queues at the borders were no longer than one hour, according to information from the Murmansk Customs authorities.
MBNews reports with reference to the Customs that a total of 25,295 people crossed the four border check-points out of the Kola Peninsula from January 1st to January 10th, when Russia celebrates Christmas and New Year.
Read also: The Russians are coming!
The two border check points to Finland, Salla and Lotta, had most traffic with a total of 19,112 people, according to a report posted at the regional newsportal b-port. The other 5,000 travellers were registered at Murmansk airport and Borisoglebsk check-point on the border to Norway.
- We are expecting an even further rapid increase in border-crossings over the years to come, says head of Police in Eastern Finnmark Håkon Skulstad to BarentsObserver. It is the police that are in charge of passport control and border crossing procedures on the Norwegian side.
Last year, 140,000 people crossed the Russian-Norwegian border. The existing Storskog check point is not dimensioned for the increased traffic. – We are now looking into interim measures to expand our capacity at Storskog, says Skulstad.
Such measures could include a new lane for outgoing traffic, extra gates for passport control and maybe even place a portacabin container for passport control at one of the in-coming lanes at Storskog, according to the police chief.
In the longer run, entirely new border check point buildings can be constructed at Storskog.
Read also: Plans for new border station presented
- With the development we see now, we might expect the number of people crossing the Russian-Norwegian border to reach 300,000 annually within a three year period, says Skulstad, underlining the importance of building new border check-point facilities.
