BENGALURU: A new casting yard and batching plant were inaugurated at Huskur Station on Corridor-4 (Kanaka Line) of the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Transport Project (BSTP) on Sunday, aimed at accelerating station construction and improving quality standards.
Rail Infrastructure Development Company – Karnataka (K-RIDE) Managing Director Lakshman Singh, after inaugurating the facility, said it has been established for construction works related to nine stations on the Kanaka Line, stretching from Heelalige to Rajanukunte via Yelahanka.
He added that the centralised casting yard would significantly improve the speed, safety and quality control of the project. Speaking to TNIE, Singh said the casting yard measures around 400 metres in length and 34–40 metres in width. “Once you have a centralised casting yard of this capacity, the speed of construction increases. Quality of work, quality control and safety also improve because the operations are mechanised,” he said.
According to him, nearly 1,000 girders are required for the nine stations being executed under a contract handled by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL). Each girder weighs around 20–30 metric tonnes.
“To manually cast girders at multiple locations would take almost two years. With this dedicated casting yard, the same work can be completed in around 10–12 months,” he said, adding that the facility would substantially reduce delays and ensure better execution standards.
The casting yard is equipped with two gantry cranes, each with a lifting capacity of 60 metric tonnes, to aid the movement, placement, loading and unloading of heavy precast structures.
In addition, a batching plant has been installed at the site to ensure an uninterrupted supply of high-quality concrete required for precast works. Singh said the computerised plant will ensure consistent concrete quality. The integrated setup will streamline construction activities and improve coordination between concrete production and girder casting operations.
He added that contractors working on other suburban rail corridors are also establishing similar casting facilities to speed up station construction.