The Indian Railways has renewed 54,600 km of tracks between 2014 and 2026 to enhance safety and ensure faster train operations, Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed Parliament on Wednesday.

The upgrades have significantly increased the network’s operational speed. Over 80 per cent of the rail system can now handle sectional speeds of 110 kmph or more, up from 40 per cent in 2014. Tracks permitting speeds of 130 kmph and above have also seen a three-and-a-half-fold increase, rising from 6.3 per cent to 22.4 per cent during the same period.

“Upgradation and renewal of tracks is a continuous and ongoing process. The track renewal is carried out as per the laid-down criteria based on age, traffic carried, condition, etc.,” Vaishnaw said in response to a question in the Lok Sabha. He emphasized that renewal works are prioritised according to track condition to ensure safety for trains operating at permitted speeds.

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Track inspections are conducted regularly, including daily patrolling, on-foot and trolley inspections, and footplate or rear-window checks by designated officials. To objectively monitor track health, Track Recording Car (TRC) and Oscillation Monitoring System (OMS) runs are carried out across the entire network at scheduled intervals, with timely corrective actions taken wherever needed.

In addition to track renewals, the government has recently approved infrastructure upgrades worth ₹765 crore to modernize operations, expand line capacity, and enhance communication systems on critical sections of the network. Projects include upgradation of electric traction systems on high-density freight and passenger corridors and expansion of the optical fibre communication backbone in the Vadodara and Mumbai Central divisions of Western Railway.

These initiatives form part of a broader effort by Indian Railways to strengthen its infrastructure, improve operational efficiency, and ensure safe, high-speed train services for passengers and freight across the country.

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