Estonia cuts working hours of Narva pedestrian checkpoint at border with Russia

TALLINN. April 18 (Interfax) - The Estonian government decided at a meeting on Thursday to cut the working hours of the busiest pedestrian checkpoint at the border with Russia, Narva-Ivangorod, from May 1.

"The Narva-1 checkpoint, which operates 24/7, will now be open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.," the government press service said.

Russia started renovating the Ivangorod checkpoint on February 1, thus suspending transborder motor traffic, presumably until the end of 2025, while the pedestrian checkpoint stayed open, the press service said.

Travelers have to take a bus to Narva, cross the border on foot, and take a bus in Russia. The same procedure is in effect on the other side.

The closure of Finnish-Russian border checkpoints increased the load on the Estonian border, as many travelers have to use pedestrian crossings. Narva is the closest and most convenient of all.