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Samjhauta: Passenger limit fixed at 576

         Lahore: To check overcrowding which would, in turn, plug security lapses, the railways authorities in India and Pakistan have decided that Samjhauta Express will not carry more than 576 passengers at a time. The decision comes in the wake of last month's Samjhauta Express firebombing in which at least 68 people were killed and several others injured. Henceforth, the railways authorities of both the countries would also exchange a list of Samjhota Express passengers as a 'security measure'. Announcing this here last evening, a Pakistan Railways official said that the decision had been taken to avoid overloading on the train. According to him, both countries had also signed an agreement in this regard. Railway and security authorities on both sides had been told to abide by the decision, otherwise stern action would be taken against them, the Daily Times quoted him as saying. Commenting on the new agreement between the two sides, Pakistan Railways General Manager Asad Saeed said that both the sides had evolved a joint strategy to ensure security on the Samjhota Express. He further said that the decision to limit the number of passengers on the train was part of this strategy. He said that in the past there was no concept of proper booking, and the ticketing authorities of both countries issued tickets beyond capacity, "but now both countries were bound to limit the number of Samjhota Express passengers to 576. It will help collect record of all passengers easily." An unidentified official source said that India could not provide the list of passengers onboard the ill-fated Samjhota Express because the train was overloaded. He said that passengers were also complaining about mismanagement and substandard facilities on board the train. "People often complain about the unavailability of water in toilets and all such problems are the result of overcrowding," the source said.
-March 8,  2007