Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday flagged off the historic Srinagar-Muzaffarbad bus service from the Sher-e-Kashmir cricket stadium amidst tight security.
Twenty-one passengers, including 4 women, were on board the two buses painted green and white that will take them to the Kaman post on the Line of Control, where they will get down and cross over to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir by foot.
As the flower-bedecked buses slowly rolled out of the stadium, near which the Tourist Reception Centre, the target of a militant attack on Wednesday, is located, thousands of people gathered there cheered the passengers who in turn waved back.
After crossing over, the passengers will carry their onward journey to Muzaffarabd on a PoK bus.
Meanwhile, a bus carrying 30 passengers to Srinagar set off from Muzaffarabad, the capital of PoK.
The green and gold 'Kaarwan-e-Aaman' (Caravan of peace) bus was flagged off by PoK Prime Minister Sikander Hayat Khan amid readings from the Quran.
"The start of the bus service is a historic step," Hayat said.
Twenty five men and five women travelled to Chakoti near the LoC from where they crossed over to the Indian side of Kashmir by the Kaman Bridge, which is the last point on the LoC.
After custom clearance and other formalities they continued their journey for Srinagar on the two Jammu and Kashmir State Road Transport buses.
The road leading to Srinagar from Muzaffarabad has been decorated with banners inscribed with slogans of peace, love and friendship.
