Rush for visa for Munabao-Khokrapar train
by Vikram Vishal

    New Delhi: Hundreds of people queued outside the visa counters at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi on Monday with barely a week left for the 'Thar Express' between Munabao in western Rajasthan and Khokhrapar in Pakistan's Sindh province to embark on its maiden journey. A mad rush was seen at counters with visa applicants demanding the opening of more centres.

   "We are facing big problem as there are long queues at the visa counters. There should be more visa centres. They should at least have provision for water and if possible accommodation for those coming from outstation," said Khalif Mohammad, a visa applicant. Jummi Bai, another visa seeker, said they have been waiting for the past four days with no respite. "I have to get visa. I am running from pillar to post to get my visa for the past four days but nothing has come till now. There is no drinking water. We are facing so many problems," said Bai. The weekly train service between India and Pakistan was earlier due to start on February 1 but was delayed for technical reasons. The cross-border train will now start from February 18. In the first month when the rail service begins, North Western Railway officials have said that they were expecting about 50 to 60 percent reservations. The train would initially have six coaches, which would leave from Munabao and would be covering a distance of about 11.5 kilometres between Munabao and Khokhrapar. At the Munabao Railway Station, which is 2.5 kilometres from the Zero Point, preparations have been completed and the gleaming station is all set to welcome the first batch of passengers after a gap of 41 years. Elaborate security arrangements have been made for the cross- border train, as it would be heavily guarded and personnel of Railway Police Force (RPF) would also board it till the Zero Point. Roads on both sides of the track from Munabao to the border have also been constructed for Border Security Force (BSF) jeeps to accompany the train from Munabao to the border to prevent smuggling or attacks en route.

    The Munabao Railway Station with world-class facilities, can handle about 500 passengers from either side simultaneously. Tickets, which will be given manually in the initial period, will be available only at Jodhpur. Interestingly, two tickets will be given for the journey from Jodhpur to Mirpur Khas in Pakistan. The first ticket will be from Jodhpur to the Zero Point and the second from the Zero Point till the train's last destination. The rail link between the two countries was stopped when Pakistani fighter jets bombed the tracks that linked the two countries during the1965 war. Prior to that, the train on this route used to be between Karachi to Mumbai via Munabao. However, during the war of 1971 between Indian and Pakistan, there was a temporary link-up to facilitate the movement of the armed forces. But as a part of the confidence building measures between the two sides, both the governments decided last year to restore the link for passenger service.

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