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Delhi-Lahore bus service launched

The much-awaited regular bus service to Lahore from Delhi was inaugurated today, less than a month after Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's historic journey across the border.

Twenty-nine passengers became the first Indian citizens to use the first commercial bus service to Pakistan in 51 years.

Delhi Transport Minister Parvez Hashmi broke a coconut to launch the service this morning at the Ambedkar Bus Terminal at 0600 hours. Several government officials were present at this historic occasion.

The luxury bus, decorated with balloons and flowers, then left on the 11-hour trip to Lahore, carrying in it people from all walks of life.

Two security guards accompanied the passengers. The baggage of the passengers was checked and their documents scrutinised before they got on to the bus.

Meanwhile, the first commercial bus to travel to India in 51 years left Pakistan today, but it was half empty.

Pakistani authorities said would-be travellers were unable to get Indian visas.

But officials at the Indian high commission in the federal capital of Islamabad said there wasn't any demand for visas because people were confused about when the passenger bus service was to start.

At the crowded Lahore bus station, the 20 passengers who did board the first bus were thrilled.

''I am so excited and happy, you don't know how difficult it is to travel by train,'' said Abdul Majeed, a retired banker who was going to visit an ailing brother in New Delhi. ''I have to say I am grateful to the prime minister for starting this bus service.''

The bus trip is to take 11 hours.

Among the travellers was a group of nine women from Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi, who wanted to be among the first Pakistanis to make the trip.

Another passenger, Idrees Khan, who runs a publishing business in the United States, said, ''I have always wanted to see the golden fields of (India's) Punjab.''

Government officials and relatives threw rose petals and handed flowers to the departing passengers.

''This is a good day for relations between Pakistan and India,'' said Imtiaz Saeed, chairman of the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation who saw off the passengers.

''This will be a pleasure for me,'' said Amir Khan, the bus driver. ''I have been driving a bus for 29 years and I think this will be my most exciting trip.''

UNI

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