Rail Wheel Plant, Bela

Rail Wheel Plant, Bela (Hindi: रेल पहिया कारखाना, बेला) is an independent Production Unit of Indian Railways. It is situated in Bela Gram Panchayat, Dariapur Block, Parsa in Saran district of Bihar.[3] It was inaugurated in 2008 by the former Railway Minister of India, Laloo Prasad Yadav. It was built at a cost of ₹1,450 crore (US$200 million).[4] It is spread over a land area of 165 acres.[5][6]

Rail Wheel Plant, Bela
Native name
रेल पहिया कारखाना, बेला
TypeProduction unit
IndustryCast Steel Wheels — Wagons
Founded2004 (2004)
HeadquartersNew Delhi, India
Area served
India
Key people
Piyush Goyal
(Minister for Railways)
Vinay Mittal
(Chairman)[1]
ProductsWheels for All railway wagons of Indian Railways
Revenue₹15 billion (US$210 million) (2011–12)[2]
OwnerGovernment of India (100%)
Websitewww.indianrailways.gov.in
Indian Railways
Overview
HeadquartersEast Central Railway Zonal Headquarters, Hajipur
Reporting markIR
LocaleIndia
Dates of operation2014 (2014)–Present
Other
Websitewww.indianrailways.gov.in

Construction

The Rail Wheel Plant's construction, which started in July 2008, was a step to revive industrialization in North Bihar. Indian Railways made history by awarding this project as an Engineering Procurement & Construction (EPC) contract to Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T). It was the first time in the history of Indian Railways that a highly sophisticated factory was set up without any foreign collaboration. It was possible because of the in-house capability of railway engineers and expertise of L&T. The construction division of L&T (ECC) was involved in civil & electrical works, whereas the Railway Business Unit (an initiative of L&T in rolling stock projects) set up methods and procedures along with interfacing of equipment. Working in close coordination with contractors and sub-contractors, Indian Railways achieved completion of the project within the stipulated time-frame of 40 months (24 months of the original time schedule and additional extensions).

It was a challenge for Indian Railways to start civil works in a difficult site which is surrounded by rivers on all sides. To add to complications, the elevation of the plant was lower than the river bed. Because the soil was loose, stone columns were constructed to increase the load-bearing capacity of the soil. Additionally, Bihara is a remote area so L&T deployed 24-hour security because there was the constant fear of unlawful activities by locals and Maoist insurgents.

One siding Railway line from the plant site to Nayagaon railway station is under construction.[7] The plant dispatched its first consignment of about 250 broad gauge passenger coach wheels in October 2016.[8] Nearly 3000 workers were employed during peak construction period including 300 highly skilled engineers of various specialties.

Safety

The Rail Wheel Plant project was completed with a safety record of 1 million safe man hours. This admirable safety record was achieved through a daily morning pep-talk and vigilant site supervision by trained and qualified safety stewards.

Villages affected

The villages of Dariyapur Block specially Laloo Tola, Mushahari, Durbela, Babu Tola, and Kochwara were affected by the acquisition of land from farmers of these villages.

Indian Railways compensated farmers for the acquired lands and promised them jobs in the plant.

Electricity

The State Government in collaboration with Power Grid Corporation of India founded the Sitalpur Power Grid in the year 2000 to provide electricity to the plant and neighboring villages in a radius of 25 km.

Education

The Rail Wheel Plant founded some institutions for its employee and members of neighboring villages, especially Bela Gram Panchayat and Dariyapur:

  • Kendriya Vidyalaya, Bela (affiliated from CBSE Delhi)
  • Yamunachari High School, Dariyapur (State Government School affiliated from BSEB Patna)
  • Government High School, Dariyapur (State Government School affiliated from BSEB Patna)

See also

List of locomotive builders by countries

References
  1. "Railway Unit". Official webpage of Indian Railways. Retrieved 6 June 2009.
  2. "Railways Fiscal Budget 2012" (PDF). Retrieved 15 March 2012.
  3. "Bela factory to make wheels for passenger trains".
  4. "official inauguration not yet March 2016".
  5. "Rudy inuguraion".
  6. "VVIP Inauguration Bela 2015".
  7. "Rail Wheel Plant/Bela on Map-The Plant is located at Bela, Distt. Saran. State highway( Sitalpur – Parsa) is passing west site of Plant, NH-19 ( Hajipur- Chhapra) is available at 4Km from Plant site, Sitalpur Railway station".
  8. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Execution-of-rail-projects-Sarans-biggest-gain-in-16/articleshow/56244188.cms
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