Munabao-Khokrapar rail line likely to open

New Delhi, Nov 2: The three-day India-Pakistan Railway delegation-level talks concluded here today with the two sides deliberating at length on opening the Munabao-Khokrapar rail line for freight traffic and electrification of railway line between Amritsar and Lahore.

The delegations also expressed satisfaction on making the Samjhauta and Thar Express trains fully reserved.

The Indian delegation, led by Mr Ashok Gupta, Adviser (Traffic), Railway Board, proposed to augment the services of Thar Express and making available the passenger manifest of both these trains in advance on a reciprocal basis for expeditious cusoms and immigration clearance at the station.

The eight-member Pakistani team was led by Mr Ali Arif, Additional General Manager (Freight), Pakistan Railways.

It was decided to strictly enforce the luggage limit prescribed for passengers of the Samjhauta and Thar Express trains to facilitate early completion of formalities at the border station and maintain punctuality of these trains.

The two countries also agreed that Indian air-brake coaching stock would now be used for running Samjhauta Express when it was the turn of the Indian Railways to ply its coaches.

The talks were held in pursuance of the Third Round of India-Pakistan Composite Dialogue held in Islamabad in March this year.

Besides measures already initiated to improve trade, commerce and people to people contacts by both the countries, it was agreed in principle that efforts would be made to eliminate barriers to trade and to facilitate cross-border movement of goods between the two countries.

On being informed by the Indian delegation about introduction of air-brake freight stock between the two countries, the Pakistan delegation said it was in the process of progressively shifting to air-brake stock and high-capacity wagons.

The two sides agreed to the holding of regular coordination meetings between their Railways on both the passenger and freight movement.

UNI