SAIL-BSP readies to roll world's longest rail

The plant has initiated hot trials of its new state of the art 1.2 mtpa Universal Rail Mill, which was set up with an investment of Rs 1,300 cr

Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) is all set to roll world’s longest rail from its flagship entity, the Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP).

The hot trial of the new state of the art 1.2 MTPA (million tonne per annum) Universal Rail Mill (URM) started in the BSP yesterday. The lighting up of reheating furnace and hot trials of URM are important milestones and a step closer towards commissioning of the URM as also in BSP’s 7 Million Tonne (MT) modernisation and expansion programme.

“The single reheating furnace will cater to the requirement of hot blooms for URM to roll out 130 meter long rails as a single piece that will be the world’s longest rails,” a SAIL-BSP spokesperson told Business Standard. The reheating furnace with a 230 tonne/hour capacity is the most modern, fully automated and energy efficient. It is the first walking beam type furnace of BSP. The URM has been set up with an investment of about Rs 1,300 crore.

The new URM would also shape the SAIL-BSP to meet the demand of Indian Railways. BSP is the sole supplier of world class rails to the Indian Railways. “Even as Indian Railways has been preparing to be among the world’s best rail networks, SAIL-Bhilai has lost no time to equip itself and be ready to meet its futuristic and advanced requirements,” the spokesperson said.

From the new Mill, BSP will continue to fulfill the Indian Railways’ requirement of 260 metre rail panels by welding two 130 metre rail pieces at the new Rail Welding Line. The Plant will also be able to supply still longer rails to Indian Railways upto length of 520 metre. Besides, the new Mill is also being equipped with online head hardening facility to meet the Railway’s requirement of head hardened rails.