The Pune-Manmad railway route, which handles a high volume of both passenger and freight traffic, is being upgraded with the installation of high-capacity tracks.

Railway officials are using 60-kg, 90 UTS rails with a capacity of 550 GMT, designed to handle heavy freight trains and reduce track fractures. This upgrade will also increase train speeds, with trains eventually running at up to 130 km/h. The track replacement work is currently underway between Puntamba and Kanhegaon stations in the Pune railway division, utilising the Plasser Quick Relaying System (PQRS) for faster and more efficient work with minimal disruption to services. Officials successfully replaced a nine-km stretch in just 35 days.

Hemantkumar Behra, a spokesperson for the Pune Railway Division, said, “These rails can easily handle the load of heavy freight trains and will significantly reduce track fractures.” The new high-capacity tracks are expected to last for 15 to 20 years without needing replacement.