New Delhi, Aug 10 : Government today informed the Rajya Sabha that there is no proposal to restore the old rail link between Jammu and Sialkot in Pakistan.
Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed said in a written reply that during the foreign secretary-level talks in the framework of the Composite Dialogue in June, 2004, India had proposed a number of cooperation measures to Pakistan for enhancing people-to-people contact across the International Border and Line of Control, including Jammu-Sialkot and Kargil-Skardu bus links.
The proposals were reiterated subsequently, most recently during the foreign secretary-level talks in January, 2006, he said adding that Pakistan has not accepted either of the bus- link proposals.
Replying to another question, he said the income generated by the Delhi-Lahore bus service during 2004-05 and 2005-06 is Rs 2,35,07,348.
The Amritsar-Lahore bus service, which was inaugurated on January 24, 2006, has generated Rs 6,04,039 (as on July 31, 2006) and the Amritsar-Nankana Sahib bus service which commenced from March 24, 2006 has generated Rs 1,33,661 (till July 31, 2006), Ahamed said.
The Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service was operationalised from April 7, 2005 and has earned a revenue of Rs 12,29,800 (as on July 31, 2006). The Poonch-Rawalkot bus service which was inaugurated on June 20,
There are two rail links between India and Pakistan. Approximate earnings from passenger and parcel traffic from the Samjhauta Express (Attari-Wagah) was Rs 3,77, 29,000 in 2004-05. The Thar Express (Munabao-Khokhrapar), which started service on |
