A new gas station has opened in the Verkhnedvinsk district near the Belarusian-Latvian border

The construction contract was signed between the regional executive committee and the Russian investor, OOO "Zvezda Podmoskovya". It was clear to everyone that such a facility was needed at the "Grigorovshchina" border crossing point: the Verkhnedvinsk district is a border area, the gateway to the Vitebsk region and the country, and it is our duty and a characteristic of our mentality to welcome guests with dignity. The flow of vehicles to Latvia, especially heavy trucks, is quite high here, and queues periodically form, leaving drivers with nowhere to eat or rest: the nearest gas station with a mini-cafe and shop on this highway is in Verkhnedvinsk itself, and hot meals are available only in Baranovo near Polotsk. Now, all services are provided in a complex.

Approximately 965 thousand dollars of direct foreign investment were directed towards the construction of the facility, which is owned by OOO "BelNefteGrup". The gas station is equipped with four fuel dispensers, and the enterprise has obtained a license from "Belneftekhim" for the sale of petroleum products. The mini-cafe, with 16 seats, operates 24/7 and offers dishes of national Belarusian cuisine. Products are purchased from local organizations, including the butter and cheese factory, the bakery, OAO "Shaytero", consumer cooperatives, and others. The shop offers essential goods for both drivers and their vehicles, as well as souvenirs. Sanitary and household facilities, including shower cabins, have also been created.

As noted by Elena Borzdyko, Deputy Chairperson of the Verkhnedvinsk District Executive Committee, the development of roadside infrastructure has also contributed to the creation of 20 new jobs, which is very important. The staff, including gas station operators, bartenders, cooks, and security personnel, are residents of the neighboring village of Bigosovo and the district center. Furthermore, the enterprise is registered in the region, which means tax revenues will replenish the local budget, and retail trade turnover will increase.

A parking lot for 70 heavy trucks has been set up next to the gas station. This number is a provision for the future, as is the construction of the second phase of the facility on the opposite side of the road, which is currently underway, because by the end of the year, an electronic queue system is to be introduced at the "Grigorovshchina" border crossing point.

– If our company becomes the operator of the electronic queue system, then it will be with us that drivers will wait for information about their border crossing time, while staying in comfortable conditions, – said Mikhail Skurat, Director of BelNefteGroup LLC. – There are many prospects, as the flow of vehicles here is quite large. Across the road, there will be a facility with parking for 30 heavy trucks, and we will additionally create another 20 jobs.

As Oleg Matskevich, Deputy Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, who was present at the opening of the facility, rightly emphasized, Belarus is a transit country, routes between the European Union and Russia, Europe and Asia pass through us, and we can earn money from this.

– Facilities like the modern "Grigorovshchina" border crossing point and the new roadside service facility "BelNefteGroup" will develop transit, facilitate the passage of more vehicles, and consequently, bring more revenue to the budget, provide people with new jobs, – noted Oleg Sergeevich. – I would like to thank everyone who participated in the creation of this complex, who serve directly at the border, and the local authorities for their work in this direction.

OLGA MASLOVSKAYA, Photos by Anton STEPANISHCHEV, "Vitebskiye Vesti".