"Queen of Desert- Bridge of Peace" inscribed on engine of the Thar Express crossed Zero Point in Pakistan area and steamed up to Monabao in India in the afternoon of February 18 opening a new vista for people living on both sides of the divide. A moment for which they had waited for decades.
It replaces Raja Ki Rail, the pre-independence train service which served famous desert of Rajasthan and Thar for over a century till 1965 war between India and Pakistan.
"Salam-Nameste" a keynote musical tune from an Indian film emerged as the theme song of the event underlining the reality of peaceful co-existence.
The song resonated at different railway stations with thousands of elderly, youth and children dancing to the tune. "This is a train for development, progress, prosperity and friendship." The personal interest of President General Pervez Musharraf, the Prime Minister and Governor Sindh made the event possible, said Dr Farooq Sattar, leader of MQM's parliamentary group in National assembly addressing a jubilant and charged crowd.
The train reached its first stop at Hyderabad at 01.30 am to a rousing welcome. The presence of women at the railway stations at odd hours surprised every one. Amid roaring welcome slogans and greeting the train sped on towards the Zero Point.
I am astonished by the feelings expressed by the people. How come the authorities remained unaware of the feelings for so long, Arshad Iqbal Tarar advocate out of a 62 member strong delegation of Pakistan India Forum for Peace and Democracy said.
He termed the facilities at border as inadequate and said since he boarded the train at Karachi twenty hours have exhausted but no edibles are available.
Haider Abbas Rizvi, MNA sharing his views said that people are craving for opening of visa facility at Karachi to make the new route more relevant. A suitable space for Consulate at Mumbai may be acquired.
When asked about the continuation of the rail link, he said that initial fears will gradually fade away.
Jan Shehzada engine driver of the train said he had been waiting for the moment and felt honoured. Expressing feelings after returning from Monabao, he said that Indian Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadev greeted him with warmth, Provincial Chief Minister presented him with "Loi" making the trip unforgettable.
A temporary structure has been put in place and within next nine to twelve months a railway station like the one at Wagha border would be constructed , Ghulam Rasool Memon, Project Director of Thar Express rail link Pakistan Railways said.
Inspector Yar Muhammad Mughal, Incharge FIA cell at Zero Point disallowed crossing of border to some passengers saying that only those passengers would be allowed to cross the border from here that have visa endorsement "By Train".
Only three automated computerised record entry system (PISCES) were working while at least ten systems are needed for speedy clearance, said Syed Hassan Askari Jafferi of FIA adding that the railway station also needed expansion.
The issue of visa was equally shared problem for Indian nationals. Muhammad Yousuf Cheepa from Jodhpur said he went thrice to Delhi covering a one way distance of 622 kms to get visa which is a cumbersome and costly exercise.
Sri Chand Chawala from Ahmedabad appealed to both the governments to establish camp visa offices to help the passengers.
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