Lucknow, January 8: Enabling ease of travelling by connecting chords of shortening distance, the Uttar Pradesh government started direct bus service from Prayajraj to Katra in Jammu and Kashmir. Now those pilgrims who will visit Kumbh in Prayagraj can directly go to Mata Vaishno devi Shrine located in katra.

 

The service was started on the occasion when the UP State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) signed an inter-state bus pact with its counterpart in Jammu and Kashmir. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath flagged off the bus service from Prayagraj to Katra and back during Kumbh and afterwards.

Fare of these AC buses will be less than Third AC fare of train. The distance of about 1,387km between Prayagraj and Katra will be covered in almost 24 hours and the ride will cost passengers Rs 1,333 each. Both UP and J&K will operate buses on three routes.

While UP will have its roadways buses covering 816km in J&K, buses from Jammu will cover 1,846km in UP. Soon, there will be direct buses available from Lucknow to Katra.

Apart from this, Uttar Pradesh also signed an MoU with Himachal Pradesh for a similar arrangement.

Earlier Uttar Pradesh had started a similar bus service facility from Varanasi to Kathmandu Kathmandu and Varanasi marking a significant contribution in promoting religious tourism on both sides.