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'Bus to Pakistan' conducts dry-run

A bus to bridge the distance between India and Pakistan conducted its 'dry run' today.

The Delhi-Lahore bus service, the first road contact between the two neighbours for passenger traffic in a long time, is expected to be formally inaugurated from the national capital on November 6, senior manager (traffic), headquarters, Delhi Transport Corporation, Manzoor Ahmad said in New Delhi today.

Ahmad, who was accompanying the modern DTC bus on its 'dry run', said the long journey would have three breaks -- one at the Parakeet tourist complex (Pipli) and the other two at Sirhind and Kartarpur in Punjab.

However, fresh passengers would not be allowed to board the bus at any of the halts due to security constraints.

The idea of a bus service between Lahore and New Delhi was part of the confidence building measures agreed upon at the recently resumed official-level dialogue between the two countries.

Khan said the specially-designed bus would run thrice-a-week with a corresponding service from Lahore on alternate days.

The 18 passengers on board for the dry run included DTC and intelligence bureau officials besides police personnel from Haryana and Punjab -- the two Indian states the bus will pass through on its journey.

UNI

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