Thursday, December 22 2005 12:37 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Munabao (Rajasthan): Work is on in full swing at this remote and dusty railway station in Barmer district of Rajasthan to meet the deadline for resumption of the historic rail link between India and Pakistan.

As the trains start chugging once again from this station to Karachi as a part of Confidence Building Measure (CBM) agreed to by India and Pakistan two years ago, it could help in putting on track a peace process which has often derailed for one reason or the other.

Known as the last railway station of Western India and one that was almost forgotten for 40 years after the 1965 war against Pakistan, Munabao is gearing up fast to be a crucial junction for the train that would begin from Jodhpur (Rajasthan) and would go all the way up to Karachi.

"This (Munabao) station is once again going to be a very important link to Pakistan and joint efforts are on by the Indian and Pakistan Railways and Governments to ensure that the services begin in January as planned," Inspector General of BSF, Gujarat Rajendra Kumar told sources.

As of now, the Indian Railways will ferry the train for the first six months while Pakistan will manage for the next six.

For railway and security officials it has been a Herculean task to construct a state-of-the-art railway station at such a remote corner of the country.

The new railway station building has been built at a cost of Rs 18 crore and would be completely covered by a 12ft high wire mesh so that none of the passengers on board the train can get off at any station and walk away as that would pose a major security threat.

"Once the rail link resumes, the entire Munabao station will be in the hands of security and intelligence agencies.

The Border Security Force (BSF) will also be patrolling the 12km rail route (from Munabao to Khokhra-par) via foot and camel to ensure that no body throws anything in or out of the train," the BSF official said.

Till the rail route begins, hectic meetings are on between all concerned agencies and even visiting Pakistani officials to ensure that there are no hitches when the ambitious project begins in January.

A senior official of the North-Western railways who had also worked at the Attari railway station near Wagah border in Punjab from where the Samjhauta Express links Pakistan, and is part of this historic project rate Munabao as one of the best looking Railway stations in the country.

"The platform is 500mt long and the design was made keeping the IGI airport at Delhi in mind. However this has been one of the toughest tasks for all of us involved in constructing this railway station and giving it international appeal", the official said.

Giving an example of the troubles faced, the rail official said the closest hardware store was more than three hours and any mistake meant a long trip back for the right thing.

Residents of Munabao and surrounding villages are eagerly looking forward to the rail link resumption. Many of them have memories of their travel on the route 40 years ago and several others are yearning to see their loved ones on either side of the border.

Manilal Shankar is one such cloth trader from the outskirts of Munabao who is keen to take this rail route and meet his long-lost relatives in Karachi and other cities.

Shankar, who came to India in 1965 along with his immediate family, said, "I remember travelling on board the train but it was not a big issue and hassle then as it is today. Now I need to first procure a passport, then visa and inform relatives that we are coming. If all is well then I will take the train again".

There are others who are hopeful that the train service will usher in some trade at a later stage but also fear that some 'unwanted elements' could slip in and create disurbance and pose a security threat.

Channaram Rathod, a shop-owner living near the Munabao station, said, "People from Pakistan who have relatives here are welcome but we do not want trouble-makers and terrorists to come. The locals are peace loving but have memories of the 1965 war still fresh in their head."

BSF officials are handling the entire project with a sense of cameraderie but are aware that the slightest wink by security staff could give a chance for arms and narcotics smuggling once the train resumes.

"This is an important link for the two countries but we will not be taking any chance and security will be very alert," an intelligence official said.