Monsoon fear forces BSP to complete project in record time

Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP)-a flagship entity of the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL)-had completed the concreting work of a crucial foundation F-16 under the expansion programme in a record time of five days.

The plant that now produces over 5 million tonnes of steel per annum is enhancing its capacity to 7 million tonnes per annum. The steel maker had taken up the modernization and expansion programme with an estimated cost of Rs 18,000 crore.

"A major milestone has been achieved at the SMS-III with the completion of concreting of a very important foundation F-16 in record time of five days," company spokesperson said in a statement. Pouring of 5200 Cubic Meters of concrete and placement of 770 tonnes of reinforcement steel was involved in this foundation. This huge quantity 770 tonnes of steel reinforcement was placed in position in a short time of 29 days by the dedicated workforce.

The company officials said the project work was expedited following the possibility of monsoon break in the mid-June'13.

"It posed a great challenge to complete the work within a very short time and around 300 workers were engaged round the clock to make the foundation ready for concreting in a record time," the officials added.

The foundation F-15 (cast earlier) and F-16 foundation is the biggest foundation ever cast in Single-Pour in entire BSP and SAIL.

The completion of F-16 foundation has provided a base for construction of foundations for Convertor-2, Convertor-3, High-bay structures, and columns for other utilities (Total 23 columns).

Erection of the High Bay structures goes upto a height of 74 metre and is a very critical activity in the construction of a Steel Melting Shop.

Apart from this, completion of F-16 foundation has also opened the front for construction of various tunnels running over this foundation.