Wednesday, April 6 2005 10:39 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kaman Post (LoC): Two days before the launch of historic bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad, Pakistan has raised an objection forcing the Indian side to go in for last-minute changes in preparations on Kaman Post.

The Kaman bridge, which passengers have to cross to reach the other side of the Line of Control (LoC), was painted in saffron and green by the Indian side.

Two days back, the Pakistani side insisted that the colour be changed to all white, official sources said at Kaman Post, adding in view of this, the Indian side has started painting the bridge in white.

"We have finished painting the bridge. But now we have to race against time to make it ready before the bus service is launched on April 7," they said.

The 30-metre bridge, a wooden one and in dilapidated state since 1947, has been constructed anew by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in two months after India and Pakistan decided to run the bus service across the LoC in February.

Passengers travelling from Srinagar to Muzaffarabad will have to get down at the bridge and walk across to board another bus to reach their destination.

An immigration counter has been set up near the bridge where passengers from Muzaffarabad will have to get their documents verified.

The Jammu and Kashmir Bank has also set up an exchange encounter to enable visitors from the Pak-occupied Kashmir (PoK) to get hassle-free foreign exchange.

A gate has been constructed on the Indian side with a huge arch on which is inscribed "peace bridge" in Hindi and English.

On the other side of the bridge, Pakistanis are seen making hectic preparations for the event.

"They started late and are now working overtime to finish work in time," an official on the Indian side remarked.

Prior to partition, the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road was an important all-weather trading route since its construction in 1886.

After the 1947 war, the LoC was demarcated through the bridge cutting across the KDK nala, one km west of Uri.