Indian Railways will soon bring for cabinet clearance an ambitious, Rs 18,000 crore ($3 billion) plan that involves fencing off the existing Delhi-Kolkata and Delh-Mumbai routes to speed up train movement in the country's two busiest corridors. Besides fencing, the proposal involves track and signalling upgrades and elimination of unmanned level-crossings along the two major trunk routes -- Delhi-Mumbai at 1,384 kms Delhi-Howrah at 1,450 kms.

The cabinet is expected to consider the plan next month.