New Delhi / Bhilai, 1st July, 2020: Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) /Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP) has successfully rolled Vanadium alloyed special grade Rails, R 260 grade, for the Indian Railways and the first rake was flagged off on 30th June, 2020 by Shri Anirban Dasgupta, Director (P&BP) with additional charge of CEO, BSP. The program was witnessed by the dignitaries including Shri Vishwesh Chaube, Member Engineering, Railway Board, Smt Rasika Chaube, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Steel and Shri Puneet Kansal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Steel were connected through online platform along with Shri Anil Kumar Chaudhary, Chairman, SAIL and other senior officials of Indian Railways. Shri Chaudhary said, "It has been a constant endeavor of SAIL-BSP to develop new value-added products for its esteemed customer, Indian Railways by making required changes in processes to meet stringent technical specifications of the Indian Railways and cater to their changing needs. This Vanadium micro-alloyed steel would provide higher yield strength to rails. The new grade will not only ensure cleaner steel but will also provide better mechanical properties. SAIL-BSP has been producing the exact specification based rails for the Indian Railways throughout its decades old association". The R 260 grade of Rails is targeted to meet the requirements of Indian Railways for higher speed and higher axle load. Indian Railways is moving towards higher speed and axle load rails for which it required SAIL to produce R 260 grade and SAIL has started successfully producing the same. The high strength of more than 550 MPa (Mega Pascal) will enable Indian Railways to withstand more rigorous Rail traffic and also achieve better life. The Rails shall be supplied in the form of 260 meter long welded panels.
The new grade of rails rolled by SAIL-BSP is based on R 260 grade specifications issued by Indian Railways Research & Development wing (RDSO). R 260 grade specification issued by RDSO is more stringent than the European specifications on many parameters, including the hydrogen content of 1.6 ppm (max.) in steel as compared to 2.5 ppm (max.) specified in the European specification. SAIL/BSP has started producing the R 260 rails from its new and modern Universal Rail Mill.
As Rail makers to the Nation, SAIL's Bhilai Steel Plant has been an integral part of the day to day operations of the Indian Railways. SAIL/BSP has rolled out the desired volume, quality and length of rails to meet the changing requirements, year after year, progressively improving standards to roll out world class rails as per stringent specifications of the Indian Railways. The Rails produced by SAIL/BSP traverse the length and breadth of our Country. Steel-making for Rails in Maharatna SAIL's Bhilai Steel Plant has been specialized to meet and even better the exacting standards set for ensuring safety of the passengers. SAIL and Indian Railways collaboration for carrying out continuous product and process improvements domestically to cater to the changing requirements has been a hallmark of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
