Truck queues at border: Kazakhstan government explains how it plans to solve the problem

Tengrinews.kz — First Deputy Prime Minister Nurlan Nogaibayev held a meeting on the situation at road checkpoints along the state border, according to the government press service.

According to the Border Service of the National Security Committee, the Alimbet, Zhaisan and Syrym checkpoints on the Kazakh side are operating around the clock as normal.

Authorities noted that, due to the seasonal increase in transit traffic, oversight of the modernisation of road checkpoints on the internal perimeter of the Eurasian Economic Union has been strengthened. The measures are expected to reduce border processing times.

In addition, service and waiting areas for truck drivers are planned near priority checkpoints. The work is expected to be completed in 2027.

Following the meeting, relevant government agencies were instructed to ensure uninterrupted and faster passage of vehicles. To achieve this, the Ministry of Transport, together with government agencies and local executive bodies, has set up operational headquarters.

The government press service stressed that the situation remains under the control of the Kazakh government.

Background

Earlier, truck drivers told the Diapazon newspaper that they had been waiting in line at the border for several days to travel from Aktobe to Orsk.

The kilometre-long queues at the border were said to consist mainly of trucks, although passenger cars were also waiting.

One driver said that at the Alimbet checkpoint, one truck and two passenger cars were being allowed through at a time. According to him, the truck queue stretched for about four kilometres, while he had managed to move only 600 metres in five hours. He expressed frustration over the prolonged wait.