The Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP) Merchant Mill (MM), which was set up and commissioned in February 1960 with the help of Russians in Chhattisgarh, has over the years improvised operations and introduced process improvements to roll out exactly what customers of this highly competitive section of the market are demanding today — steel with the right chemistry and strength for big power and irrigation projects, bridges and structures as well as high rise buildings coming up in seismic and corrosion prone areas.
“Besides, continuing to meet requirement of structural steel for major customers such as l&T and for NTPC’s thermal power installations, light structurals and TMT bars produced in the Mill have been instrumental in supporting various important nation building projects,’’ a Press statement of the BSP informed.
The plant which is flagship unit of the public sector Steel Authority of India ltd (SAIl) is based in Durg district, some 30 km from State capital Raipur.
All TMT bars that the Plant’s Merchant Mill rolls out are with earthquake-resistant properties. Additionally, HCR or high-corrosion resistant properties are also provided to meet customer needs. While Merchant Mill’s entire TMT production is of EQR variety, more sections have been added.
The Mill was the first to produce corrosion-resistant variety of TMT EQR Rebar. The Plant has supplied required grade of structural steel for the Bandra-Worli Sea link and numerous other infrastructure projects including dams and bridges, high tension transmission towers, skyscrapers etc.
Even as large infrastructure projects are now lined up all over the country, the Merchant Mill collective along with the entire workforce of Bhilai Steel Plant has geared up to fulfill their share of contribution in nation-building. The Plant’s Merchant Mill has been given orders to supply TMT Bars and light structurals for various projects of national importance.
BARC’s Mumbai project is one such project of great importance for nation for which TMT bars are being supplied by the Mill. The Mill is also supplying TMT Bars in various sizes to the country’s indigenously made nuclear plant project of NPCIl for nuclear power generation at Rawatbhata in Rajasthan. Mumbai’s prestigious project for tallest building by lodha Group is underway with TMT bars supplied from Bhilai’s Merchant Mill.
One of the main infrastructure building company in the country, M/s l&T is also a major customer procuring TMT bars for various projects across the country. Approx 5500 T of TMT 40 for BARC and 9500T of other sections of TMT bars have been supplied to these projects during the current year.
Merchant Mill is also key supplier to Indian Railways for their demand of light structural viz. Angles and Channels. Our armed forces also rely on BSP Merchant Mill’s light structural product grades for their needs in difficult terrain of desert, mountains and in sub-zero conditions and for making strong and light bridges etc.
The Mill has recently supplied special grade IS 2062 E410 Grade C steel channel for construction of Bailey Bridges for movement of Border Security Force personnel and material in sub-zero climatic conditionsand difficult terrains at high altitude in leh area. The Mill has also been supplying light structurals to secure our fences along the loC (line of Control).
SAIl is now setting up a new and modern Bar & Rod Mill in Bhilai that would enable rolling out of new products including Bright bar, Cold heading, Spring Steel, Free Cutting Steel in wire rod sections and also TMT Bars in straight length, climate resistant quality angles and channels and Climate Resistant and low alloy Heavy Structural Steel.