The Hindu : Bus to Lahore from July 1

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 04, 2003

Front Page

Front Page

Bus to Lahore from July 1

By Sujay Mehdudia

NEW DELHI JUNE 3. Setting the date once again for a historic journey which could throw open the floodgates for peace and people-to-people exchange, the Ministry of External Affairs today told the Sheila Dikshit Government to prepare the ground for resumption of the now-suspended Delhi-Lahore bus service from July 1. The bus link had been severed on December 22, 2001, in the aftermath of the attack on Parliament House by Pakistan-backed terrorists.

According to the Delhi Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, a decision to tentatively resume the bus service from July 1 was taken at a meeting held in the Ministry of External Affairs.

The Delhi Government was represented by its Principal Secretary (Transport), Sindhushree Khullar, and the DTC Chairman, A.J.S. Sawhney."I have given directions to the Transport Department to go in for the best luxury coaches which have the latest technology upgradation. The bus service symbolises peace and promotes brotherhood. It would also represent Delhi's and DTC's image before the people of our neighbouring country and so everything has to be the best and most modern,'' she said.

As the condition of the two luxury buses which were operating on the Delhi-Lahore route earlier was not up to the mark, the Government as an immediate measure has decided to go in for hiring of two state-of-the-art Volvo buses which will be run on "Km Scheme".

Taking the cue from the Rajasthan State Roadways Transport Corporation (RSRTC), which is already running these super luxury buses on a similar pattern, the Delhi Government in all likelihood will lease these buses till the new ones are inducted into the DTC fleet.

The Volvo buses are expected to cost Rs. 40 lakhs to 50 lakhs and running them on the KM Scheme would be more viable. The present cost of hiring such a bus under the Km Scheme would be around Rs. 11 a km plus the cost of diesel.

The Delhi Transport Minister, Ajay Maken, said the 540-km Delhi-Lahore route was a tough stretch and the old buses would not be able to undertake the journey on such a route. He said the Delhi Government took up with the MEA the issue of reimbursement of arrears of Rs. 24.61 lakhs from the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation since the suspension of the buses service. However, Mr. Maken said the non-reimbursement of this amount would not come in the way of resumption of the bus service.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page

Stories in this Section

Talks should begin on PoK first, says Vajpayee

Bus to Lahore from July 1

Ready to address India's concerns: Kasuri

BJP hints at Cabinet expansion in U.P.

Not more than Rs. 200 for cable TV: Minister

'Settle Bhojshala issue through talks'

Medha Patkar's condition worsens

Canada rejects probe

Shilpa Shetty's father's arrest stayed

Arab leaders pledge peace