Ten BEST buses showcasing India-Israel cooperation in the fields of agriculture and water will ply on the streets of Mumbai for the next one month, said BEST general manager Lokesh Chandra.
Israel’s Consul General to Mid-West India, Kobbi Shoshani inaugurated the first bus by travelling from Maharana Pratap Chowk, Mazgaon to Mumbai Central Depot along with his colleagues at the Consulate General of Israel. They distributed gift hampers to fellow passengers and BEST staff and informed them about fledgling bilateral relations.
Soon, a suburban (local) train on the Central Railway will have posters on display on India-Israel relations, a CR spokesperson said, adding that advertisement space on the exterior of the rake has been booked.
The consulate was established in Mumbai in the 1950s. It played an important role in bringing two people close together. Said Shoshani : “Since the last 9 months, I have been a proud Mumbaikar. I have visited this city many times in the past since 1992 and have witnessed its changing skyline.”
He further added : “The mutual love and affection between the people of Israel and India is the biggest strength of this special relationship. It is important for us to reach out to people and get them involved in celebrating the 30th anniversary of Indo-Israel relations and Israel’s independence day.”
A social media campaign is planned around these buses and the train, he said. The buses carry slogans such as ‘Bharat-Israel Dosti ke tees saal bemisal.’
