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Lahore bus reaches Delhi

Ramesh Bhan and Pradip Bagchi in New Delhi

The inaugural passenger bus from Pakistan with 23 people, including three crew members on board, arrived to a rousing reception at the Dr Ambedkar terminal in central Delhi at 2040 hours yesterday.

The 44-seater Lahore-Delhi bus was received by Pakistani Deputy High Commissioner Khalid Khattar and Delhi Transport Corporation Chairman G S Cheema.

The passengers were given roses by DTC officials as they alighted from the 'white and green' Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation bus. A large number of relatives from different parts of the country had come to receive their kin coming from across the border.

''It was a great feeling to receive such lavish hospitality,'' said Idris Khan who is on his first visit to Delhi to meet his girlfriend. The US-based publisher said, ''Now that the windows have been opened, days are not far when the doors too will be opened.''

The Pakistani deputy high commissioner was optimistic about the success of the bus service saying it had opened another communication link apart from rail and air between the peoples of the two countries. Asked whether the frequency of the service would be increased, he said it all depended upon feasibility.

Describing it as a very 'positive development', Khattar said steps could also be taken now to liberalise the visa regime. At present 400 visas were given a day in Pakistan.

He declined to 'go into the politics' regarding the bus service in view of the threats issued by some fundamentalist organisations in the two countries.

He also declined to comment on Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharief's reciprocal visit to India by the bus. On February 20, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had visited Pakistan on the inaugural bus service.

UNI

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