Pro-Russian authorities have started bus service between Russia-annexed Crimea and Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in southern Ukraine. Some of these buses were seen arriving at a bus station in Crimea. These authorities had declared a few days ago that bus and train services will be started between Crimea and Russian-held territories from July 1.

"Starting from July 1, regular bus and train services between Crimea and the regions of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia will be launched for the first time in eight years," Sergei Aksyonov, the pro-Moscow head of Crimea, said on messaging app Telegram on June 29.

Members of Russia's National Guard will ensure the safety of travel, he added.

The pro-Moscow administration of the Kherson region also announced the opening on Wednesday of a branch of Russian Pension Fund responsible for paying state pensions.&nbsp;

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-iron-curtain-descending-between-russia-and-west-says-defence-minister-493684">New ‘iron curtain’ descending between Russia and West, says defence minister</a>

These self proclaimed authorities have also announced establishment of a Russian office to register births, deaths and marriages. Officials in some regions have also begun issuing Russian passports early last month.

The southern Ukrainian regions of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia have been largely under Russia's control since the first weeks of Moscow's military intervention, and are now being forcefully integrated into Russia's economy.&nbsp;

Russia annexed the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.

A growing chorus of Russian and pro-Moscow officials have indicated Moscow intends to remain in the Kherson region and large parts of Zaporizhzhia it controls.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

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Pro-Russian authorities have started bus service between Russia-annexed Crimea and Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in southern Ukraine. Some of these buses were seen arriving at a bus station in Crimea.

Pro-Russian authorities have started bus service between Russia-annexed Crimea and Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in southern Ukraine. Some of these buses were seen arriving at a bus station in Crimea. These authorities had declared a few days ago that bus and train services will be started between Crimea and Russian-held territories from July 1. "Starting from July 1, regular bus and train services between Crimea and the regions of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia will be launched for the first time in eight years," Sergei Aksyonov, the pro-Moscow head of Crimea, said on messaging app Telegram on June 29. Members of Russia's National Guard will ensure the safety of travel, he added. The pro-Moscow administration of the Kherson region also announced the opening on Wednesday of a branch of Russian Pension Fund responsible for paying state pensions. Also Read | New ‘iron curtain’ descending between Russia and West, says defence minister These self proclaimed authorities have also announced establishment of a Russian office to register births, deaths and marriages. Officials in some regions have also begun issuing Russian passports early last month. The southern Ukrainian regions of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia have been largely under Russia's control since the first weeks of Moscow's military intervention, and are now being forcefully integrated into Russia's economy. Russia annexed the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. A growing chorus of Russian and pro-Moscow officials have indicated Moscow intends to remain in the Kherson region and large parts of Zaporizhzhia it controls. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

First bus service between Crimea and Russian-held Ukraine territory starts

Fifty six days after operations came to a complete standstill the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) on Wednesday morning commenced its bus and water services.

The state government had cleared the operation of only intra district services, which is available between 7 to 11 a.m. and then again from 4 p.m. to 7 pm.&nbsp;

At all the depots police keep a strong vigil and ensure all maintain social distancing and use masks.

The strict guidelines include a maximum number of passengers of 24 to 28 depending on the seating capacity of a bus, and no standing passengers are allowed.

The KSRTC has been operating special services since May 11 for employees of the State Secretariat from the city depots in the capital district.

The fares have been increased by 50 per cent and this increased fare is applicable to all including those having concessions.

According to the KSRTC on Wednesday around 1,850 buses will be on the roads across the state.

However, the private sector has opposed the 50 per cent increase in the fare. They have decided not be operate and hence the private buses continue to be off the road.

&nbsp;

Fifty six days after operations came to a complete standstill the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) on Wednesday morning commenced its bus and water services.

Fifty six days after operations came to a complete standstill the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) on Wednesday morning commenced its bus and water services. The state government had cleared the operation of only intra district services, which is available between 7 to 11 a.m. and then again from 4 p.m. to 7 pm. At all the depots police keep a strong vigil and ensure all maintain social distancing and use masks. The strict guidelines include a maximum number of passengers of 24 to 28 depending on the seating capacity of a bus, and no standing passengers are allowed. The KSRTC has been operating special services since May 11 for employees of the State Secretariat from the city depots in the capital district. The fares have been increased by 50 per cent and this increased fare is applicable to all including those having concessions. According to the KSRTC on Wednesday around 1,850 buses will be on the roads across the state. However, the private sector has opposed the 50 per cent increase in the fare. They have decided not be operate and hence the private buses continue to be off the road.

Bus service begins in Kerala with restricted time schedule

A private bus service between Lahore in Pakistan and Kashgar in China was launched on late Monday night.

The first bus left for Kashgar from the Lahore terminal in Gulberg area.

It will cover the one-way journey in two days (30 hours), Dunyanews reported.

The bus service was slated to launch on November 3 but was postponed due to security reasons.

Passengers availing the service will have to shell out PKR 23,000 per ticket for a round trip, while a one-way ticket from Lahore to Kashgar will cost PKR 13,000 per person. Similarly, a one-way ticket from Kashgar to Lahore will cost RMB 600 per seat.

During the two-day journey, the passengers will have multiple stops, including one at Islamabad or Rawalpindi to pick passengers, and scheduled stops at Mansehra for breakfast, Besham for lunch, Chelas for tea and Gilgit for dinner on a trip from Lahore to Kashgar on the first day.

On the second day of the journey, a breakfast halt will be made at Sost before heading towards the Sost border for immigration, customs, and lunch.

The bus will cross over to China through the Khunjerab Pass at the Pakistan-China border, where checking will take place twice -- once on the Pakistani side and once on the Chinese side.

To avail the service, passengers have been asked to carry a valid passport, visa and a return ticket as travel documents. Baggage of not more than 20 kg will be allowed.

Special arrangements have been made for the security of the passengers and the service, while the driver will have all information to contact security guards at various check posts.

On November 1, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Raveesh Kumar asserted that any bus service between Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and China is a violation of India`s sovereignty.

While addressing the weekly MEA press briefing, Kumar had said, "We have lodged a strong protest with China and Pakistan on the proposed bus service that will operate from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir to China under so-called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Any such bus service through areas occupied by Pakistan will be a violation of India`s sovereignty and territoriality."

A private bus service between Lahore in Pakistan and Kashgar in China was launched on late Monday night. The first bus left for Kashgar from the Lahore terminal in Gulberg area.

A private bus service between Lahore in Pakistan and Kashgar in China was launched on late Monday night. The first bus left for Kashgar from the Lahore terminal in Gulberg area. It will cover the one-way journey in two days (30 hours), Dunyanews reported. The bus service was slated to launch on November 3 but was postponed due to security reasons. Passengers availing the service will have to shell out PKR 23,000 per ticket for a round trip, while a one-way ticket from Lahore to Kashgar will cost PKR 13,000 per person. Similarly, a one-way ticket from Kashgar to Lahore will cost RMB 600 per seat. During the two-day journey, the passengers will have multiple stops, including one at Islamabad or Rawalpindi to pick passengers, and scheduled stops at Mansehra for breakfast, Besham for lunch, Chelas for tea and Gilgit for dinner on a trip from Lahore to Kashgar on the first day. On the second day of the journey, a breakfast halt will be made at Sost before heading towards the Sost border for immigration, customs, and lunch. The bus will cross over to China through the Khunjerab Pass at the Pakistan-China border, where checking will take place twice -- once on the Pakistani side and once on the Chinese side. To avail the service, passengers have been asked to carry a valid passport, visa and a return ticket as travel documents. Baggage of not more than 20 kg will be allowed. Special arrangements have been made for the security of the passengers and the service, while the driver will have all information to contact security guards at various check posts. On November 1, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Raveesh Kumar asserted that any bus service between Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and China is a violation of India`s sovereignty. While addressing the weekly MEA press briefing, Kumar had said, "We have lodged a strong protest with China and Pakistan on the proposed bus service that will operate from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir to China under so-called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Any such bus service through areas occupied by Pakistan will be a violation of India`s sovereignty and territoriality."

China-Pakistan bus service launched, leaves Lahore

Government representatives of Bangladesh, India and Nepal launched the tri-nation trial bus service in Dhaka on Monday. Two buses from Dhaka set off for Kathmandu and would transit through Siliguri.

The bus service is being tested under the Motor Vehicle Agreement signed in June 2015 as part of the Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal (BBIN) initiative of South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation.

The journey will not cover Bhutan as the country requires a parliamentary nod to ratify the motor vehicle agreement. Bhutan however, has asked the three countries to go ahead with the bus service.

The buses would travel 1,200 kilometres over the next three days and arrive at Kathmandu on April 26, said Farid Ahmed Bhuiyan, chairman of Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation.

"Our journey today would survey how we can make things easy for passengers in the future. All the three countries will work together so that this route can be made feasible," Bhuiyan told WION.

Some passengers feared that the long journey could become a disincentive for travellers. Officials said if the visa procedures and travel requirements can be made easier, more passengers would feel encouraged to use the bus service.

A passenger protocol will be signed later in Delhi by the transport secretaries of the respective countries but a date has not been fixed yet. There will also be discussion about protocols for cargo vehicles.

"Protocols normally provide the visa procedures, technical specifications of the buses, how the buses will run after getting route permits, driver license and travel documents and passenger documents that would be required," said Govinda Prasad Kharel, under secretary of the Nepal's Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport.

The initiative would be a breakthrough for seamless cross-border movement of vehicles among the countries, which in the future can increase trade and tourism within the region.

According to the World Bank, intra-regional trade accounts for only five percent of South Asia's total trade, compared to 25 percent in ASEAN. The report says South Asia is one of the least integrated regions.

Failure to pull off South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation has prompted South Asian countries to mull subregional economic cooperation. But tension within the region such as the Rohingya crisis and the Doklam standoff between China and India are major stumbling blocks to corridors of economic opportunities such as the Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar.

Officials said if the visa procedures and travel requirements can be made easier, more passengers would feel encouraged to use the bus service.

Government representatives of Bangladesh, India and Nepal launched the tri-nation trial bus service in Dhaka on Monday. Two buses from Dhaka set off for Kathmandu and would transit through Siliguri. The bus service is being tested under the Motor Vehicle Agreement signed in June 2015 as part of the Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal (BBIN) initiative of South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation. The journey will not cover Bhutan as the country requires a parliamentary nod to ratify the motor vehicle agreement. Bhutan however, has asked the three countries to go ahead with the bus service. The buses would travel 1,200 kilometres over the next three days and arrive at Kathmandu on April 26, said Farid Ahmed Bhuiyan, chairman of Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation. "Our journey today would survey how we can make things easy for passengers in the future. All the three countries will work together so that this route can be made feasible," Bhuiyan told WION. Some passengers feared that the long journey could become a disincentive for travellers. Officials said if the visa procedures and travel requirements can be made easier, more passengers would feel encouraged to use the bus service. A passenger protocol will be signed later in Delhi by the transport secretaries of the respective countries but a date has not been fixed yet. There will also be discussion about protocols for cargo vehicles. "Protocols normally provide the visa procedures, technical specifications of the buses, how the buses will run after getting route permits, driver license and travel documents and passenger documents that would be required," said Govinda Prasad Kharel, under secretary of the Nepal's Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport. The initiative would be a breakthrough for seamless cross-border movement of vehicles among the countries, which in the future can increase trade and tourism within the region. According to the World Bank, intra-regional trade accounts for only five percent of South Asia's total trade, compared to 25 percent in ASEAN. The report says South Asia is one of the least integrated regions. Failure to pull off South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation has prompted South Asian countries to mull subregional economic cooperation. But tension within the region such as the Rohingya crisis and the Doklam standoff between China and India are major stumbling blocks to corridors of economic opportunities such as the Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar.

Dhaka-Siliguri-Kathmandu bus service goes on trial

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