It’s World AIDS Day today and the long awaited Red Ribbon Express is finally ready to roll out with information on HIV AIDS, reports CNBC-TV18’s Neelu Vyas.

Finally the Red Ribbon Express is ready to roll out on the tracks. This colourful train will not be ferrying passengers but spreading awareness about HIV. With 7 coaches, the train has exhibitions on HIV, counselling sessions and much more.

Sujatha Rao, DG, NACO said, “The auditorium section will hold three sessions of two hours each for district collectors and anganwadi workers at the district level.”

The Red Ribbon Express will cover 27, 000 kilometers, visiting 180 stations across 24 states. To attract the public, performers have been hired to ride into nearby villages on these bicycles. Their job is to spread awareness through song and dance. There will be 60 performers moving at the periphery of the villages.

Union Health Ministry, along with a group called Make Art Stop AIDS, has worked towards a jazzy launch of the Red Ribbon Express. Auto rickshaws and even a bus have been roped in to make the campaign a success.