5, April 2005	Tuesday	25 Safar 1426

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MUZAFFARABAD, April 4: A bus and two coasters, meant to transport passengers of the trans-Kashmir journey, reached here on Monday and made test drives up to the Line of Control in the Chakothi sector. The dry run of the vehicles coincided with the visit of 10-Corps’ Commander Lt Gen Salahuddin Satti and 12-Division’s General Officer Commanding Maj-Gen Khalid Nawaz to the Chakothi sector.

The army officials also walked on what is now being described as the Peace Bridge and shook hands with the Indian soldiers who were giving finishing touches to the bridge built by them over the water channel that marks the dividing line in the area.

AJK Chief Secretary Kashif Murtaza and other civilian officials briefed the generals on the arrangements so far made by the state government for the historic service commencing on April 7.

The 36-seater new bus has cost Rs4.2 million to the AJK exchequer and the two coasters, having 16 and 19 seats and belonging to the forests and animal husbandry departments, were refurbished at a cost of around Rs600,000.

The vehicles have been painted in green and golden colours, with Muzaffarabad-Srinagar Bus Service having been prominently written on their both sides.

Though the existing strength of passengers, 30, can be easily catered by the bus, the officials said the coasters were required for other needs.

“If the number of passengers rises in future, the coasters will help us accommodate the additional travellers,” AJK Transport Authority secretary Khawaja Zia Ahmed told Dawn.

The authority will operate the vehicles for the trans-LoC journey.

The coasters will also be used in case of rains on the 1.3km stretch of road between the Chakothi bus terminal and the bridge.

Mr Ahmed said another dry run of the vehicles would be conducted on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, AJK Prime Minister Sardar Sikandar Hayat has called a meeting of the heads of the political and religious parties of Azad Kashmir here on Wednesday to discuss issues relating to the bus service.

The premier will travel in the inaugural bus from the city terminal, set up in the Azad Kashmir Logging and Sawmill Corporation building in Chattar, to the LoC.

Assistant commissioner Muhammad Tayyab said the passengers would get down the bus near the bridge at about 1pm and walk to the other side of the LoC to board an Indian vehicle for their destination, Srinagar.

He said ten porters had been appointed at the Chakothi terminal and two at the city

terminal.