Aizawl, May 9: To further strengthen the people-to-people relationship, Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga on Monday launched the inter-state bus service with Tripura.

Officials in Aizawl said that a passenger bus of Mizoram State Transport Corporation (MSTC) would ply between Aizawl and northern Tripura’s Behliangchhip, which is located in famous Jampui Hills, predominantly inhabited by various Zo or Mizo kindred tribes.

The state transport authorities of Tripura and Mizoram earlier signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to operate the bus service.

The MSTC buses would depart from Aizawl on Monday and Thursday every week and they would return from Behliangchhip in Jampui Hills on Tuesday and Friday.

According to the transport department officials, efforts are on to operate bus service between Aizawl and southern Manipur’s Churachandpur, where a substantial number of Mizo people live.

Mizoram now operates inter-state transport services with Assam’s Guwahati and Silchar.

After flagging off the bus service in Aizawl, Chief Minister Zoramthanga said that Mizoram, now considered by many as one of the most peaceful states, has also initiated several steps to build a healthy relationship with its neighbouring states as well as the adjoining countries.

He hoped that a bus service like this would promote national integration and also a friendly environment across the neighbouring states while providing much needed conveniences for passengers on either side.

The Chief Minister also said that more efforts would be given to improve the connecting roads that Mizoram shares with its neighbouring states and thanked the Tripura government for their cooperation.