Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) is setting up rail related projects mainly New Ore Load Yard and Coal Tippler Yard under its modernisation and expansion plan at the Bhilai Steel Plant.

SAIL has set a target of increasing hot metal manufacturing capacity of BSP from 15.41 million tonnes per annum to 23.5 million tonnes post the ongoing modernisation and expansion project, officials informed.

Notably, the company has the highest rail making capacity of 2.0 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA) at one location–the Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP), officials informed.

Commercial production of world class 130 metre long rails from the new Universal Rail Mill of Bhilai Steel Plant began in November last year.

The new URM established at a cost of about Rs. 1200 Cr. is part of SAIL-Bhilai Steel Plant’s modernization programme that would scale up capacity to 7 million tonnes per annum (mtpa).

Notably, the world’s longest 130 metre rails rolled at the new Mill are welded at the new Rail Welding Plant adjacent to URM and loaded for despatch from the Mill’s loading complex.

The new 1.2 MTPA Universal Rail Mill would help SAIL to meet the increased demand for 260 metre rails from the Indian Railways.

Continuing to operate well above the rated capacity in all major areas of production, the Bhilai Steel Plant has concluded the financial year 2016-17 with an annual production of 5.04 Million Tonnes of Hot Metal, 4.74 Million Tonnes of Crude Steel and 4.00 Million Tonnes of Saleable Steel.