Number of passengers in Thar Exp. reduced to be 400

New Delhi, Jul 12 (UNI) The number of passengers commuting by Thar Express between Munabao and Khokrapar will be reduced to 400 a week each way from July 21 and the train will have only seven coaches, an External Affairs Ministry spokesman said today.

The Thar Express, which was launched after 40 years between India and Pakistan, was started with an average of 200 passengers per service and increased in popularity to carry about 700 passengers each way.

Under an agreement, there were seven coaches which could go up to ten by mutual consent.

However, the Pakistan Government said that due to infrastructure constraints, they were unable to handle the growing number of passengers at Zero Point station in Pakistan, The spokesman said Pakistan had requested that the train be run with seven coaches.

''This will limit the number of passengers that can be accommodated in this train to 400 per trip, and therefore, from July 21 onwards, the Thar Express will only have seven coaches.

It will not carry more than 400 passengers a week each way and naturally, the issuance of tickets will also be restricted to this number,'' the spokesman added.

Of the 400 seats, 55 will be in the first class, and the train has two first class and five economy class coaches.

The train is popular among the people of both countries because of the shortest distance it travels.

The cost of a ticket is Rs 1,500 between Karachi and Ahmedabad or Jaipur.

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