Bus Fanning India

Delhi-Lahore-Delhi (Sada-e-Sarhad) Bus crossing border

By Aanavandi

January 15, 2016

The Delhi–Lahore Bus, officially known as Sada-e-Sarhad is a passenger bus service connecting the Indian capital of Delhi with the city of Lahore, Pakistan via the border transit post at Wagah. The Routemaster bus number 10 was of symbolic importance to the efforts of the governments of both nations to foster peaceful and friendly relations. In its inaugural run on 19 February 1999, the bus carried the then-Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who was to attend a summit in Lahore and was received by his Pakistani counterpart, Nawaz Sharif at Wagah.

Delhi-Lahore-Delhi (Sada-e-Sarhad) Bus crossing border

Video By : Sumit Bhatia

 

The Delhi-Lahore bus is jointly operated by the Delhi Transport Corporation and the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation. The bus service is operated from Ambedkar Stadium Bus Terminal near Delhi Gate in Delhi and the Lahore-Delhi Bus Terminal at Gulberg-III near Liberty Market in Lahore. For journey to Lahore, there is a DTC Bus every Monday, Wednesday and Friday and a PTDC Bus every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. As regards the return trip to Delhi, the DTC Bus leaves Lahore every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday whereas the PTDC Bus leaves Lahore every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.The DTC charges ₹ 2400 for adults ($40 approx.), and ₹ 833 ($13.2 approx.) for minors. Children under age of 2 travel free. The PTDC charges Rs. 4000 ($65 approx.)for adult ticket since 1 November 2014 (the price before was Rs. 2000).

Authorities on both sides maintain strict security screening of the passengers and the baggage. Hazardous materials are prohibited and valuables checked. Customs and immigration checking are performed on arrival in the Pakistani town of Wagah and at the first stop in India at Amritsar. Passengers are required to carry their passports, a valid visa and their travel tickets and check in 2 hours before departure. The loss of tickets are to be reported to the police authorities.

The DTC operated Bus is a Volvo B9R. Earlier, DTC had an Ashok Leyland Viking Bus with an Azad built body. The bus stops for meals and refreshment at Wagah and at the towns of Kartarpur, Kurukshetra, Sirhind and Amritsar in India. The duration of the entire journey is 8 hours, covering a distance of 530 km (329 mi). The bus is air-conditioned and carries on-board entertainment such as film shows, video and music players as well as a mobile telephone service