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Delhi–Lahore Bus

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Delhi Kashmiri Gate–Lahore Bus
(Sada-e-Sarhad)
Founded20 February 1999
StopsAmritsar,Kartarpur(Jalandhar),Kurukshetra,Sirhind-Fategarh,Wagha
DestinationsOld Delhi(Delhi),Lahore,Pakistan
OperatorDelhi Transport Corporation
Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation

TheDelhi–Lahore Bus,officially known asSada-e-Sarhad(Translation:Call of the Frontier,Hindi:सदा ए सरहद;Urdu:صدائے سرحد),[1]is a passenger bus service connecting theIndiancapitalofNew Delhi,Delhiwith the city ofLahore,Pakistanvia the border transit post atWagah near Attari.The Routemaster bus number 10 was of symbolic importance to the efforts of the governments of both nations to foster peaceful and friendly relations.[2]In its inaugural run on 19 February 1999, the bus carried the then-Indian Prime MinisterAtal Bihari Vajpayee,who was to attend a summit in Lahore and was received by his Pakistani counterpart,Nawaz Sharifat Wagah.[1][2]In August 2019 Pakistan decided to stop the service in the wake ofIndia revoking Jammu and Kashmir's special status.[3]

Officially launching its services on 16 March, the bus service was not halted even after the outbreak of theKargil War.[4]The bus service was halted in the aftermath of the2001 Indian Parliament attack,which led to aserious confrontationbetween the two neighbours.[5]

Launching of the bus service

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Since thepartition of Indiain 1947, travel restrictions were imposed and most road and railway links shut off. Following the example of theSamjhauta Expressthat was launched in 1976, the bus service was launched to permit divided families to visit relatives and to foster commerce and tourism.[6]The bus service launch was a key element in the efforts of the Indian and Pakistani governments to improve frosty and tense relations with Pakistan, especially in the aftermath of the1998 Pokhran nuclear testsand the immediate Pakistani response of theChaghai Hills tests. The bus had made its trial runs on 8 and 14 January, carrying officials of both governments.[4]Vajpayee's bus journey and arrival in Pakistan was met with much fanfare on both sides of the border and worldwide media coverage.[7]The inaugural bus also carried Indian celebrities and dignitaries such asDev Anand,Satish Gujral,Javed Akhtar,Kuldip Nayar,Kapil Dev,Shatrughan SinhaandMallika Sarabhai.[8]Both governments soon promulgated the 1999Lahore Declaration,which pledged both nations to the peaceful resolution of bilateral disputes, especially that of theKashmir conflictand deployment ofnuclear weapons,while fostering friendly commercial and cultural relations.[7]

Suspension

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While the bus service had continued to run during the Kargil War of 1999, it was suspended in the aftermath of the2001 Indian Parliament attackon 13 December 2001,[1][5]which the Indian government accused Pakistan of instigating.[9]The bus service was resumed on 16 July 2003 when bilateral relations had improved.[1]

Travel significance

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Despite suspension due to bilateral tensions, the Delhi-Lahore bus remains a symbol of desired friendship between the two nations.[4][6]Since its inception, the bus has frequently carried trade delegations, diplomats and celebrities to both nations, attracting much media coverage. In consideration of theIndian national cricket team's tour of Pakistan in 2004, the Pakistani government permitted 10,000 Indians to travel to watch thecricketmatches in Lahore; many of whom travelled via the bus amidst great fanfare at the border; the gesture was reciprocated the following year when thePakistan national cricket teamtoured India.

Bus service details

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The Delhi-Lahore bus is jointly operated by theDelhi Transport Corporationand thePakistan Tourism Development Corporation.The bus service is operated from Ambedkar Stadium Bus Terminal nearDelhi GateinDelhiand the Lahore-Delhi Bus Terminal at Gulberg-III near Liberty Market inLahore.For journey to Lahore, there is a DTC Bus every Monday, Wednesday and Friday and a PTDC Bus every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.[10]As regards the return trip to Delhi, the DTC Bus leaves Lahore every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday whereas the PTDC Bus leaves Lahore every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.[10]The DTC charges₹2400 for adults ($40 approx.), and₹833 ($13.2 approx.) for minors. Children under age of 2 travel free.[10]The PTDC charges Rs. 4000 ($65 approx.)for adult ticket since 1 November 2014 (the price before was Rs. 2000).

Authorities on both sides maintain strict security screening of the passengers and the luggage. Hazardous materials are prohibited and valuables checked. Customs and immigration checking are performed on arrival in the Pakistani town of Wagah and at the first stop in India atAmritsar.[10]Passengers are required to carry their passports, a validvisaand their travel tickets and check in 2 hours before departure. The loss of tickets are to be reported to the police authorities.[10]

The DTC operated Bus is aVolvo B9R.Earlier, DTC had anAshok LeylandViking Bus[11]with an Azad[12]built body. The bus stops for meals and refreshment at Wagah and at the towns ofKartarpur,Kurukshetra,SirhindandAmritsarin India. The duration of the entire journey is 8 hours, covering a distance of 530 km (329 mi). The bus isair-conditionedand carries on-board entertainment such as film shows, video and music players as well as a mobile telephone service.[2][10]

See also

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References

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  1. ^abcd"Delhi-Lahore bus leaves for Pak".rediff.com.Rediff.com India limited. 20 February 2007.Retrieved21 April2008.
  2. ^abc"Delhi-Lahore bus service to start on March 16".expressindia.com.The Indian Express.13 March 1999.Retrieved21 April2008.
  3. ^"After Samjhauta Express, Delhi-Lahore bus service cancelled".12 August 2019.
  4. ^abcBains, Satinder (4 June 1999)."Kargil flare-up no damper on 'goodwill bus'".expressindia.com.The Indian Express.Retrieved21 April2008.
  5. ^abSen, Ayanjit (28 December 2001)."India-Pakistan buses close down".BBC News.BBC.Retrieved21 April2008.
  6. ^abPeer, Basharat (14 July 2001)."Delhi-Lahore bus: A symbol of peace".rediff.com.Rediff.com India limited.Retrieved21 April2008.
  7. ^abMalhotra, Jyoti (4 February 1999)."Vajpayee to take bus to Pak".expressindia.com.The Indian Express.Retrieved21 April2008.
  8. ^Vajpayee drives across the border into Pakistan and history
  9. ^Arundhati, Roy (15 December 2006)."India's shame".guardian.co.uk.Guardian News and Media Limited.Retrieved21 April2008.
  10. ^abcdef"DTC's Delhi-Lahore-Delhi Bus Service".Delhi Transport Corporation.Retrieved21 April2008.
  11. ^http://www.ashokleyland.com/sites/default/files/annual_report/milestones_apr11.pdfArchived23 September 2015 at theWayback Machine[bare URL PDF]
  12. ^"Azad Group: Achievements".www.azadgroup.in.Archived fromthe originalon 22 July 2012.Retrieved27 January2022.
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