India Mint Stamp

Lokith Philately

Permanent Pictorial cancellation of Chhattisgarh

Permanent Pictorial Cancellation inaugural day covers

Date of issue: 03.02.1984

Pin code: 800001

Status: Active

PO Name: Bhilai

Description: Bhilai is an industrial City situated in Durg Dist. of Chhattisgarh. It is home to India's first steel plant, which specializes in the production of Rails. The Iron and Steel Factory was established through an agreement between the USSR and the Govt. of India on 2nd, Feb. 1955, and was constructed during the Second Five-Year Plan. It is a unit of Steel Authority of India Ltd. (SAIL), a Central Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) incorporated on January 24th, 1973. SAIL is the largest Govt. owned steel producer. Bhilai was chosen as the plant's location due to the availability of essential materials for iron production, such as iron ore, limestone, and dolomite. The plant was inaugurated by President Dr. Rajendra Prasad on 4th, Feb. 1959. It is the largest Steel Producing Plant and the sole producer of rails and heavy steel plates in India. 

The steel-making process at the plant involves twin hearth furnaces and ingot casting. Steel Ladle furnaces play a main role in conveying molten metal from the furnace to the ingot mould. These furnaces are equipped with refractory linings to withstand high temperatures and facilitate processes such as temperature control, deoxidation, addition of alloys, and inclusion flotation. Steel Ladle furnaces are essential for processes in steel plants. The process involves pouring hot metal, scrap, and flux into the furnaces, followed by oxygen to melt the steel. Alloying elements are then added before casting the ingots. This separation of steel melting operations from treatment and refining is made possible by the ladle, resulting in the production of cleaner steel and reducing the use of ferroalloys, carbonizers, and deoxidizers. Steel Ladle Furnace plays an important role in steel production, hence the opening of the Bhilai Philatelic Bureau, Postal Department has chosen the image of Steel Ladle Furnace in the PPC.