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New Delhi, Dec 7 (UNI) Garib Rath, the first fully airconditioned train for the commomn people, will roll out from Delhi to Chennai and Mumbai early next year, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad announced here today.

Replying to nearly two and a half hours debate on the Railway Appropriation Bill in the Rajya Sabha, Mr Prasad also said that he would unveil a strict security system for all the 25,000 unmanned railway crossings across the country.

Basking in the recent turnaround of the Railways, the Minister said it had become a matter of envy and curiosity for the railway systems around the world.

'' I have been invited by the Harvard University and the World Bank to make a presentation on the phenomenal growth of the Indian Railway which had been teethering on the brink of collapse nearly three years ago,'' he said.

The Upper House approved, by a voice vote, the Bill, which was already been passed by the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

The Minister said that the introduction of the 'Garib Rath' can be righfully trumpeted as a success story of the railways under his stewardship.

One 'Garib Rath' train from Saharsa to Amritsar had already been introduced, he said.

''Now we are all set to introduce a 'Garib Rath' linking the national capital with Chennai and Mumbai, and the fare will not be more than Rs 500,'' he said.

Outlining the likely contours of the next Railway Budget, the Minister gave ample indications that passenger amenities and security would be major considerations in the coming years for his Ministry.

Describing unmanned crossing as a major source of accidents, he said that there should be a clear policy on this issue.

''Such a project will entail a heavy expenditure, but the railway is committed to grappling with the problem in an effective manner.'' Referring to the recent train accidents, including the one near Bhagalpur following the collapse of an old bridge, the Railway Minister said the Ministry was seized of the matter.

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