2024-08-01 01:50:38
Until the end of 2024, the construction of the necessary infrastructure – patrol paths, footbridges and other solutions necessary for the protection of the border – will continue along the entire length of 173 kilometers of the border.
Griškevičs informs that in 2023 the construction of the fence in the land sections (112 kilometers) was completed, this year the construction of the fence along the public waters took place step by step until the end of July. In total, the border fence has been built for almost 145 kilometers. Currently, under the leadership of VNĪ, the construction of the necessary infrastructure continues, as well as the construction of other solutions in two stages – the Daugava section and the section around Riču Lake, where no border fence is planned.
In the land sections, where a fence was already built last year, infrastructure construction works are currently ongoing – patrol trails for light vehicles (up to 3.5 tons) with a length of approximately 40 kilometers (from 119 kilometers) and footbridge patrol trails with a length of around 15 kilometers (from 28 kilometers) have been created. The construction of 1.75 kilometers long pontoon patrol paths has been completed. These solutions allow border guards to access and control the border area.
In the third or Daugava phase, in cooperation with the State Security Agency, the construction of six metal communication towers, access roads and a 16.7 kilometer long patrol trail is being implemented. Currently, construction works for the construction of five access roads and communication towers have started, while the coordination of construction projects and preparatory works are continuing to ensure the construction of the remaining one tower and access road. The constructed towers and access roads will ensure border surveillance in the Daugava section.
On the other hand, in the fourth round, bypass roads are planned around Riču Lake, which will allow the border guards to move quickly along the shore of the water body, effectively reacting to possible violations – unauthorized entry of people or goods into Latvia. Sections where there is no border fence – the 16.7-kilometer section of the Daugava and the construction of bypass roads and infrastructure around Riču Lake are planned to be completed by the summer of 2025.
Also, in 2023, a 30-meter-long tunnel was put into operation, which significantly facilitates the protection of the national border in the area where the border is crossed by the railway line. Griškevičs points out that the 30-ton metal tunnel is one of the most sustainable engineering structures of this type in Latvia.
By a special law, at the end of 2021, the construction process of the border fence and infrastructure with Belarus was transferred to VNĪ. Also, in the summer of 2023, VNĪ was assigned to manage, implement and monitor the construction of the Latvian-Russian border fence and infrastructure on the external border of Latvia.
The total cost of the Latvian-Belarus border fence and infrastructure construction and related services and works is 125.35 million euros, including 3.6 million euros of European Union (EU) funding for the construction of communication towers and access roads.
The implementation of the Eastern border construction project is monitored by the External Border Infrastructure Construction Monitoring Committee, which consists of representatives from the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development, the State Border Guard, the State Security Agency, VAS “Latvian State Radio and Television Center”, VNĪ, JSC “Latvijas valsts meži”, Latvian Geospatial Information Agency and NBS.
VNĪ was founded in 1996, its 100% shareholder is the Ministry of Finance.
2024-08-01 01:50:38