Saturday, February 12 2005 15:17 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Two long-distance trains between Delhi and Howrah and Delhi and Chennai with speed of upto 150 km per hour are expected to be announced by Railway Minister Laloo Prasad in the Budget for the fiscal 2005-06, which is in the final stages of preparations.

The Minister was also likely to announce the launch of four freight trains at a speed of 100 kms per hour on High density routes connecting the four Metros, Railway Ministry sources told in New Delhi today (Feb 12, 2005).

He may also announce a high-speed corridor to introduce "Bullet" trains between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, with a speed of 250 to 300 km per hour.

This project is being launched after getting a nod from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who has been championing the modernisation of Railways.

Apart from this, to sustain high occupancy of upper class passengers, a "frequent Travellers Scheme" is expected to be announced by Prasad under which frequent travellers will earn points that will win them free tickets.

This incentive has been prevailing in Indian Airlines, which is a success story in passenger marketing.

Concerned over the alarming rise of AIDS cases in the country the Ministries of Railways and Health and Family Welfare have decided to jointly run five pairs of "Red-Ribbon" Express Trains to create awareness about the dreaded disease.

These trains would run on the track of lifeline Express, which is operated by the Railways under the aegis of an NGO - 'Impact India Foundation', and has provided medicare to more than four lakh people across the country, the sources added.

The Minister is also expected to unfold employment opportunities to fill the 87,000 vacancies in-group "C and D" categories of safety segments of Indian Railways.

Prasad has already sought exemption from the Cabinet for filling these vacancies on a war footing.

In yet another innovative and employment oriented scheme to be announced related to the new catering policy intends to generate about Rs 500 crores annually as compared to Rs 22 crores in the current fiscal.

The New Catering Policy announced by the Railway Minister in October 2004 has since been modified at the behest of the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) chairperson Sonia Gandhi and would be announced by Prasad while presenting Railway Budget on February 26.

He is also expected to announce the implementation of a new Book-Stall policy to generate employment among various categories of minorities, SCs/STs, OBCs, Physically challenged, unemployed graduates and freedoms fighters.