Proposal for Indo-Pak bus through Thar desert

A new bus route between India and Pakistan may be opened through the Thar desert if the proposal to connect Munabao (in Rajasthan) and Khokharapar (in Sindh province) by road is accepted, official sources said in Jaisalmer on Wednesday.

The Rajasthan government has already sent a proposal to the Centre to reopen the route and resume the bus service, which was abandoned after the 1965 Indo-Pak war.

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Both countries had proposed a rail link. But since this may take some time as it entails gauge conversion, the road link was mooted. The proposal was sent to the Centre recently after a review of the administrative and security arrangements for the same in Jaipur.

Three alternative starting points have been suggested. The proposed bus service may start from Barmer to reach Khokharapar via Munabao. The service may also start either from Jodhpur or Ajmer.

If a bus route were opened between Munabao (in Barmer district) and Khokharapar, a distance of 12km, immigration and security offices would be opened at Munabao.