SAIL starts delivery special rails to Indian Railways

New Delhi: Steel Authority of India (SAIL) despatched the first consignment of specialised rails to Indian Railways from its Rail and Structural Mill, Bhilai Steel Plant.

"First consignment of 18 pairs of thick web asymmetric end-forged rails was flagged off on 13 July. The project of setting a forging unit was taken on priority based on the commitment by SAIL to Railway Board," SAIL today said in a statement.[caption id="attachment_952369" align="alignleft" width="380"]

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These rails shall help Indian Railways to lay high speed, high strength and long life switches in their network.

The commercial production of these facilities was inaugurated by chairman SAIL CS Verma in January this year.

The company said the dispatch was made to Rail Vikas Nigam Limited, Tamluk, West Bengal and "it has been a constant endeavour of Rail and Structural Mill, Bhilai Steel Plant to develop new value added products for its esteemed customer Indian Railways".

Bhilai had developed and successfully rolled thick web asymmetric rails, it said adding, exhibiting faith in its five decade old partnership with SAIL, Indian Railways entrusted the task of forging one end of these rails to enable its joining with stock rails.

Indian Railways have projected a yearly demand of 10,000 tonnes of these switch rails.

No producer in India makes these specialised rails and this is an import substitute item.

The state-run steel company said this achievement is especially important as it shall help Railways in their plan to increase traffic loads and speeds.

PTI