TDCP Launches Tourist Bus Service ‘Aik din, Sadion Ka Safar’

* Tickets to tourist attractions available on the bus

* Buses to run every half hour Staff Report

LAHORE: The Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab (TDCP) formally launched ‘Aik din, sadion ka safar’ (One day – a journey of centuries), a tourist bus service on the pattern of the London Metro Tourist Bus Service on Friday. These buses will start their journey from the Lahore Fort at around 9am and will finish their trip at the Liberty Market by sunset. The bus service aims to showcase various shades of Lahore and highlight the historical landmarks of the city, in order to promote tourism.

The buses, whose route has been called ‘Aik din, sadion ka safar’, will cover all the major markers of the city. The route passes through Liberty Market, Defence Housing Authority, Ichhra, The Mall, Jail Road, Cantonment, Lahore Fort, Badshahi Mosque, Lahore Museum and Anarkali among other places. A souvenir shop will also be set up in the buses, so that tourists can buy guidebooks and replicas of the monuments that they visit.Tickets: Tourists will be able to buy tickets to visit the historical landmarks and other tourist attractions like the Lahore Museum, Zoo and Fort on the bus. Half-hour gap: The buses will run with a half-hour gap, allowing tourists to get off at the places of their choice and be picked up again after half an hour by the next bus. Four buses have been allocated already, as part of the initial stage of this service.

These bues have been painted to portray the city’s indigenous colours. A special jingle – ‘Aa dekh mera Punjab’ (Come see my Punjab) – has also been composed for the service. Various stanzas of the song talk about different parts of the province. A video of this jingle is also being prepared. A documentary about the city will also be screened in the buses in order to inform the tourists about the sites they visit. On Friday, reporters were given a ride in the bus and TDCP officials told them about the project. A senior official said the idea behind the bus service was to promote and strengthen domestic tourism.

He said the number of foreigners visiting the country had decreased over the past few years, and the government planned to facilitate the number of locals. He said the citizens of Lahore would enjoy the bus service and it would be a special treat for people visiting from outside the city