Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav [ Images ] on Saturday set a target of 350 route kilometers for Railway electrification during 2005-06 and expressed confidence of meeting the current year's electrification target of 375 km.

Presenting the Rail Budget for the next fiscal, Prasad said the electrification during 2005-06 would cover Najibabad-Moradabad, Paravur-Trivandrum, Krishnanagar- Behrampur, Tirupati-Pakala-Katpadi and Talcher-Angul routes.

The Railway Budget 2005-06: Complete Coverage

Electrification of Villupuram-Pondicherry is also being taken up with 50 per cent of the cost being borne by government of Pondicherry, he said.

Besides the work for electrification of Moradabad-Lucknow- Utretia has also been included in this budget, Prasad said in his address.

As for the suburban transport projects, the minister said Phase-I of Thane-Turbhe-Vashi section in Navi Mumbai [ Images ] has been completed and opened for passenger traffic in November, 2004 and work on the second phase ie Turbhe-Nerul section is in progress.

Prasad said gauge conversions of full section between Chennai Beach and Chengalpattu has been completed and opened for traffic in November, 2004.