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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4134
TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.08.2026
REPLACEMENT OF RAILWAYS TRACK IN BALASORE, ODISHA
4134. SHRI PRATAP CHANDRA SARANGI:
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware of the replacement of existing
railway tracks with high- quality tracks in Balasore (Odisha) from
Financial Year 2014-15 to Financial Year 2025-26;
(b) if so, the details thereof including the length of railway tracks replaced
with high-quality tracks from Financial Year 2014-15 to Financial Year
2025-26, year-wise and if not, the reasons therefor;
(c) whether the Government is aware regarding the funds allocated for
track maintenance, safety, and upkeep of Railways for the Balasore
(Odisha) for optimum efficiency and safety between Financial Year
2014-15 to Financial Year 2025-26; and
(d) if so, the details thereof including the funds allocated for track
maintenance, safety and upkeep of Railways related elements in the
Balasore from Financial Year 2014-15 to Financial Year 2025-26 and if
not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a) to (d): 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.
Track Renewal Works are planned and executed duly prioritizing the
condition of track and various other factors so as to ensure that track is
safe for running of trains at permitted speed.
§ Page 1 of 3The details of track renewal carried out across the entire railway network
including Balasore, during 2014-26 are as under:
Track renewed ~ 55200 Km
This includes about 200 km of track renewal carried out in the district of
Balasore during 2014-26.
Further, following measures are being taken to upgrade the railway tracks:
i. Modern track structure consisting of 60kg, 90 Ultimate Tensile
Strength (UTS) rails, Wider and heavier Pre-stressed Concrete Sleepers
(PSC) with elastic fastening, fan-shaped layout turnout on PSC
sleepers and H-beam Sleepers on girder bridges are being used while
carrying out primary track renewals.
ii. The Thick Web Switches and Weldable CMS Crossings are being used
in turnout renewal works.
iii. Supply of 260m long rail panels have been increased to avoid welding
of joints, thereby improving safety and riding quality
iv. Thick Web Switch Expansion Joints are being used in place of earlier
Conventional/Improved SEJs.
v. Adoption of better welding technology for rails i.e. Flash Butt Welding.
vi. Adoption of mechanized system for track maintenance using high
output plain tampers and points & crossing tampers for improved
maintainability & reliability of track.
vii. Deployment of state-of-the-art modern machines including Rail
Grinding Machines to further improve asset reliability.
viii. Mechanisation of track laying activities through use of track machines
like PQRS, TRT, T-28 etc.
ix. Interlocking of Level Crossing (LC) Gates for enhancing safety at LC
gates.
x. Use of advanced Phased Array technology of testing of rail and welds.
xi. Deployment of Integrated Track Monitoring Systems (ITMS) and
Oscillation Monitoring System (OMS) for comprehensive health
assessment to ascertain optimal maintenance requirements.
xii. Adoption of portable Track Measuring Trolley for continuous recording
of track parameters in yards.
xiii. Using web enabled Track Management System (TMS) for integration
and data analytics of the track inspection records received through
various sources to enable precise maintenance inputs.
Page 2 of 3As a result of above measures, there has been significant increase in
speed potential of the tracks. The details of speed potential of railway
tracks during 2014 vis-a-vis 2026 are as under:
Sectional Speed 2014 2026
(kmph)
Track Km % Track Km %
130 & above 5,036 6.3 24,173 22.5
110 - 130 26,409 33.3 62,482 58.1
< 110 47,897 60.4 20,897 19.4
Total 79,342 100 1,07,552 100
This includes raising of speed potential of Kharagpur - Bhadrak route
covering tracks in Balasore to 130 kmph in year 2022.
On Indian Railways, the expenditure on Track Renewal/ Upgradation of
railway tracks including in Balasore has increased significantly over the
years as under:
2013-14 2025-26 2025-26 vs
(in ₹) (in ₹) 2013-14
4979 Cr. 26231 Cr. 5.3 times
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