New Delhi/Lahore: Consolidating the peace process, India and Pakistan today restored road links between them with two luxury buses carrying the first batch of passengers in 18 months travelling in each other's territory in pouring rain amid high emotions and hopes of improving ties.

The golden-coloured Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) bus carrying 32 passengers, including 19 media persons, reached Lahore covering a distance of 527 km triggering euphoria among those waiting to see their kin across the border.

Similar scenes were witnessed in Delhi when a reciprocal green-coloured Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) bus from Lahore with 28 people, including a sick child and six media persons on board, rolled into the Ambedkar terminal.

As the buses reached their destination passengers hugged and kissed their near and dears soon after they alighted.

Earlier in the day, the buses escorted under an intense security cover crossed each other in Punjab with the passengers cheering and waving at each other.

The day also had its quota of protests from a handful of opponents to the peace process with Pakistan. Shiv Sena and Bajrang Dal volunteers shouted slogans against Pakistan and denounced its support to cross border terrorism just after the bus rolled out in Delhi and on its way in Punjab. A similar scene was enacted when the Pakistan bus reached Delhi.

PTI