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| Cross-LoC travel made easy | | Triple entry system for travellers | | Early Times Report
Jammu/Srinagar, July 7: In a massive boost to the cross-LoC contacts, the authorities are planning to introduce a triple entry permit system –allowing two visits on one permit to the Pakistan occupied Kashmir –instead of the single permit system which in vogue at present.
The Regional Passport Officer (RPO) of Jammu and Kashmir B S Manavlan said in Srinagar today that triple entry system is being introduced for the people visiting Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and those arriving here from across the LoC to meet their relatives, He said at present if a person was issued a permit to travel to PoK, it was valid for only one time and for another visit he or she had to apply afresh. “Now we are issuing triple entry system, which will be valid for three visits during one year”, he said.
The RPO said there are five crossing points between Jammu and Kashmir and POK--two bus service through Uri and Poonch and three places where people had to cross by foot.
Admitting that it takes longer time to issue travel permit to people visiting their relatives in PoK, Mr Manavlan said this was not within their control.
''We cannot help it as after getting clearance from the CID and police here, we are sending the documents to Pakistani authorities and until their clearance no permit can be issued,'' he said.
''Similarly until we clear a resident of PoK, he cannot travel here, The RPO said adding it is because of this reason, it take longer time to issue travel permits.
However, he said, efforts are being made to made the process simple so that more people could travel in cross-LoC bus.
The first cross-LoC bus service was introduced in April 2005 when the first batch of residents of this side was flagged off by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for PoK through Aman Setu bridge, the last Indian military post on this side of the border.
Thousands of families, separated in 1947 during partition, have so far met each other since the introduction of the bus service, which was affected for one month after massive earthquake in October 2005 and later few days after terror attack on Sri Lankan players in March this year.
However, only residents of Jammu and Kashmir and POK are eligible to travel in the cross-LoC bus.
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