Munabao (Rajasthan)
1 February 2006
Special security cover would be provided to the Munabao-
Khokrapar Thar Express by the Border Security Force and Railway Protection Force
personnel. The inaugural run of the train will take place on February 18 as has been
decided by India and Pakistan after Railway officials from both countries concluded their
two-day talks in Islamabad.
"The RPF personnel will be in the train. The Government Railway Police (GRP) could also
be requisitioned if need arises," Mr SB Bhattacharya, General Manager of North Western
Railway said. Metalled roads have been built along the railway line between Munabao
and the border and BSF personnel will escort the train.
"We have signed the agreement covering all technical aspects and the first train would
be run from February 18," Mr Ashok Gupta, Adviser (Traffic) in the Railway Board has
said. Mr Gupta signed the agreement with his Pakistani counterpart, Mr Mustaq Khan
Jadoon, on Tuesday.
As per the agreement reached, the train service would be run every Saturday of the
week. The fare for the train was tentatively fixed for Rs 190 on the Pakistani side and Rs
115 on the Indian side. Sources said the agreement is modelled on the Samjhauta
Express running between Attari and Lahore.
The sources said the train would leave from Karachi to Khokhrapar on the Pakistani side
on Friday and cross into the Indian side on Saturday. It will arrive at the Munabao
railway station around noon. After immigration and custom checks, the Pakistani
passengers will leave at about 4.30 pm for Jodhpur.
On the Indian side, the train will leave Jodhpur on Friday night and reach Munabao on
Saturday morning. There will be no stoppages on the 329 km-route between Jodhpur and
Munabao. Passengers will get into the coaches (provided by Pakistan for the first six
months) and leave for Pakistan at about 1.30 pm.
The sources said that after immigration and custom checks at the "Zero Point" railway
station built by Pakistan very near to the international border, the passengers will travel
to Khokrapar situated about nine kilometres away and onwards to Mirpur Khas at a
distance of 135 kilometres.
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