LAHORE, Jan 3: A four-member Pakistan Railways delegation will be leaving for India on Wednesday to finalize modalities for reopening the Khokhrapar-Monabao link.

Sources said that the delegation would discuss and finalize matters like frequency of the train service in a week, its departure time, fare, provision of locomotives and other operational issues.

The delegation, headed by PR General Manager (operations) Saleemur Rahman Akhund, was earlier scheduled to leave for India on Dec 3 and then on Dec 12. The visit was delayed for a third time on Dec 23 for ‘unavoidable reasons’.

“The Mirpurkhas-Khokhrapar section is ready as we have completed our task. The replacement of the 135km meter-gauge track with broad gauge from Mirpurkhas to Zero Line (border), which is some 8km from Khokhrapar, was completed in the middle of last month. The trial run was recently conducted and the track was found fit for traffic,” said an official working on the Khokhrapar-Monabao link upgradation plan.

A decision to resume the link severed during the 1965 war was taken during President Pervez Musharraf’s visit to India in 2005.

The resumption of the Khokhrapar-Monabao rail link will minimize the journey to India to five hours. At present, people have to travel through Lahore.

Online adds: About 20 customs counters, 28 immigration counters and money exchange facilities are being set up at the Monabao station.

The Indian government has spent over $4 million on renovating the station.