New Delhi, March Indian Railways has renewed 54,600 km of tracks between 2014 and 2026 to strengthen safety and improve train operations, the Parliament was informed on Wednesday.
During the period, more than 80% of the rail network has been upgraded to support sectional speeds of 110 kmph or higher, compared with around 40% in 2014. Tracks capable of speeds of 130 kmph and above also increased significantly, rising from 6.3% to 22.4% of the network.
Responding to a question in the Lok Sabha, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said track renewal is a continuous process carried out based on parameters such as track age, traffic load and overall condition.
He added that renewal works are prioritised to ensure that railway tracks remain safe for train operations at permitted speeds.
The railway network is regularly inspected by designated officials through multiple monitoring mechanisms, including daily patrolling, on-foot inspections, trolley inspections and footplate or rear-window inspections.
To assess track geometry and health more objectively, the Railways also conducts scheduled runs using Track Recording Cars (TRC) and the Oscillation Monitoring System (OMS). The entire network is covered under these monitoring systems to identify issues and undertake corrective action in a time-bound manner.
Separately, the government has approved infrastructure and technology upgrades worth ₹765 crore aimed at improving operations, expanding line capacity and strengthening communication systems across key routes.
According to the Ministry of Railways, the projects include upgrading electric traction systems on two high-density freight and passenger corridors and expanding the optical fibre communication backbone across the Vadodara and Mumbai Central divisions of Western Railway.
