Sunday, April 3 2005 14:12 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Jammu: Ahead of the historic journey on the Srinagar-Uri-Muzaffarabad road on April 7, a dry run of the 19-seater bus, which would ferry Kashmiris across the border, would be conducted tomorrow (Apr 4, 2005) under tight security arrangements.

"The 19-seater stag model of Ashoka Leyland bus would leave Srinagar for Kaman bridge, the last Indian border post in Uri sector, at 0800 hours," Jammu and Kashmir Roads and Building Minister Gulam Ahmed Mir said.

The first dry run of the bus was conducted on March 18. However, tomorrow's dry run assumed significance in the backdrop of militant threats.

"This dry run would identify any shortcoming in timings, security or bus drive and corrections made accordingly," Mir said.

The Kashmir bus will move at 08:00hrs (IST) from Srinagar and would be provided the same security, as a security forces convoy gets.

On the same day, another bus of Jammu and Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation (JKSRTC) will leave the Kaman bridge also at 8 am under tight security cover on its onward journey to Srinagar on test basis, the Minister said.

As per the decision by Indian and Pakistan authorities, from April 7 the bus would drop passengers to Muzaffarabad at Kaman bridge, the last Indian post on the road.

After covering a little distance they would enter Pakistan and board the buses there to reach Muzaffarabad.