MUNABAO, Feb 1 : A visit to this desert town on Sunday cleared the mystery behind the two-week delay in the launch of Thar Express train marking the second rail link between Pakistan and India.

Peeping into the Pakistan side from the international border, one found work progressing at a slow pace, rail tracks incomplete, the ‘Zero Point’ railway station a mere ‘shed’ compared to the swanky Munabao station erected on the Indian side.

The Indian railways have not only completed their job, they have set up a world class station.

The official was not very hopeful of getting more than 50 to 60 per cent Passenger capacity in the three coaches, which will be run once a week in the initial phase. But he saw this project as a long-term investment. “At present, we are only expecting emotional gains, not commercial gains.”

He said passenger traffic is likely to pick up in time and the number of coaches and the frequency of the train could be increased accordingly.—By arrangment with the Times of India