Name: Bhilai
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Bhilai Steel Plant, Bhilai Overview

Bhilai Steel Plant is the only steel city in the state of Chhattisgarh and is the perfect place for anyone who wants to gain some technical knowledge. Bhilai Steel Plant is not traditionally a tourist destination as such but is one of the prime attractions for anyone with an interest in understanding steel production, the process and the intricacies.

The main places that one can visit within Bhilai Steel plant are the coke oven battery, blast furnace, rail and structure mill, plate mill, wire rod mill and much more. Bhilai Steel plant is India's first and main producer of the steel rails. A 130-metre long rail was produced here on 29 November 2016 and holds the record for being the longest rail line to have been rolled out in a single piece. Bhilai Steel Plant has won the Prime Minister's trophy for the best integrated steel plant in the country 11 times. It is the flagship plant of Steel Authority of India Limited, contributing the largest percentage of profit made by the company.

History of Bhilai Steel Plant

Bhilai was a small village which was situated in a remote area of Chattisgarh. In the year 1959, the Bhilai Steel Plant was founded with the aid and support of Soviet Union. The government of India and the USSR agreed and signed a petition in New Delhi for the establishment of the Bhilai Steel Plant. The main reason for choosing Bhilai as the site was because of the availability of iron ore at Dalli Rajhara. Rails, structural items like beams, crossings, sleepers, channels and plates are some of the most important manufacturing products of the steel plant. After the establishment of Bhilai Steel Plant in 1955, it became a hub of cutting edge technology. Owing to its high-performance standards, it became the first steel plant in India that was accredited with the ISO 9002 quality certification. As of now, Bhilai is the second largest city in Chhattisgarh.

Tours in Bhilai Steel Plant

One of the most popular things to do in Bhilai is perhaps the tours that are conducted in the Bhilai Steel Plants. Here, you can learn how the manufacture of steel rails takes place, right from the inception of the design to all the mechanical processes that are involved in the process. The machinery and their working are explained in detail and you can also have a look at these mammoth instruments at work. A briefing on the safety measures that are followed here is also imparted, so as to keep the visitors safe against any hazards. Adequate facilities for the convenience of the visitors such as restaurants and washrooms are available here as well. You need to collect the entry passes from the PRO department if you wish to visit the steel plant. If the intricacies of engineering intrigue you, a tour of this place is a must!

Tips For Visiting Bhilai Steel Plant

1. You need to collect the entry passes from the PRO department if you wish to visit the steel plant.
2. Be careful around the plant equipment

How To Reach Bhilai Steel Plant

Being one of the major industrial towns, reaching Bhilai is not a big trouble. However, the Bhilai airport operates exclusively for the steel plant. The nearest airport, however, isn't too far away at a distance of 45 mins and is called Swami Vivekanand Airport, Raipur. The Raipur Airport is connected to most of the major towns in the country. A taxi can be boarded from outside the airport to reach the steel plant. Various government buses are also available from Raipur at a price of INR 50 per head and depart at regular intervals through the day. Bhilai is also connected to Nagpur and Bilaspur through regular buses.