Seeking to enhance people-to-people contact between India and Pakistan, the first bus from Amritsar [Images] to Lahore [Images] will leave on Tuesday.  

Deputy Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal would flag off the bus carrying 28 people, including three Punjab ministers, from the international bus terminal. 

According to authorities, a 16-member Punjab government delegation and 12 other passengers would travel by the 45-seater Volvo bus, which will return from Pakistan the next day.

• Bussing the peace process

Prominent government officials who will be traveling include Punjab Transport Minister Mohinder Singh Kapyee, Punjab Excise and Taxation Minister Sardoon Singh, Deputy Speaker of Punjab State Assembly Darbari Lal, Transport Secretary A K Talwar, Director Transport Narinderjit Singh, State Transport Commissioner Iqbal Singh Sidhu.

Earlier on January 20, the first bus from Lahore to Amritsar arrived carrying 26 passengers and returned with 15 Pakistani officials besides one driver and one liaison officer.

The one way fare of the bus is Rs 700 in Indian currency, Rs 900 in Pakistani currency. Children between the age of 2 to 12 year will be charged fare while children below 2 years would be allowed free.

The Indian bus from Amritsar to Lahore will ply every Tuesday and return on Wednesday whereas the Pakistani bus will ply from Lahore to Amritsar every Friday and return on Saturday.