Around 200 kilometres of railway tracks in Balasore district have been renewed between 2014 and 2026, Union Railway, Information and Broadcasting, and Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said.
Vaishnaw said track renewal and upgrading is a continuous process carried out based on factors such as the age of the track, the number of trains operating on a route and the condition of the railway infrastructure.
55,200 Km of Tracks Renewed Across India
According to the Railway Minister, nearly 55,200 kilometres of railway tracks have been renewed across the country between 2014 and 2026.
He said railway tracks are maintained and renewed by following prescribed safety standards and adopting modern technologies. Regular maintenance and upgrading are aimed at improving the safety and efficiency of train operations.
Train Speed Improves
Vaishnaw also highlighted the improvement in average train speeds following regular track maintenance and renewal.
Compared with 2014, the average speed of trains has increased in 2026. On the Kharagpur-Bhadrak railway route, the average speed reached 130 kmph in 2022. The Balasore section falls under this route.
The improvement in track infrastructure has helped facilitate faster and safer train operations along the corridor.
Track Renewal Spending Rises 5.3 Times
The Railway Minister further said expenditure on railway track renewal and upgrading has increased significantly over the years.
In 2013-14, around ₹4,979 crore was spent on track renewal and upgrading. By 2025-26, the expenditure had increased nearly 5.3 times to ₹26,231 crore.
Vaishnaw said the continued investment in railway infrastructure, along with modern technology and regular maintenance, is aimed at strengthening railway safety and improving operational efficiency across the country.