Varanasi is currently experiencing heightened interest in a giant truck that is attracting the attention of passersby. This behemoth trailer, equipped with 308 wheels, is transporting a massive reactor that arrived from Belgium and is heading to Lakhimpur Kheri. After a five-month journey through Jharkhand and Bihar, the convoy reached Varanasi, but its movement was halted.
The logistics team had to face several difficulties, including the need to secure space for oversized transport and overcoming height-related obstacles. That evening, when the giant trailer arrived near the Lanka toll plaza, an alternative route was arranged to move further away from the Dafhi toll plaza. However, in the morning, as the massive trailer began moving along this temporary path, one of its wheels got stuck in the dirt road.
To safely extract the trailer, the logistics team took measures using two additional trailers, a hydraulic manipulator, a crane, and other heavy equipment. Thick metal sheets are being laid on the ground to stabilize and subsequently remove the trailer. Local residents note that they have never seen such a large trailer before, and many come to see it, taking selfies and recording videos for social media.
Before reaching Uttar Pradesh, this colossal trailer already faced difficulties in Chandauli. The convoy, traveling from Odisha through Jharkhand and Bihar, arrived in Chandauli last Friday. Upon approaching the ring road near Pandit Dindyal Upadhyay town on National Highway-19, difficulties arose with further progress due to the trailer's dimensions and weight. The logistics team began work on preparing the route, making changes to the condition of the road surface in several places.
The logistics company manager, Aneek Bharti, reported that the reactor was delivered by sea from Belgium to Paradeep port in Odisha. It is then transported by road to the Kumbi Unit Balrampur Sugar Factory in Lakhimpur Kheri. According to him, various obstacles related to height and width arise along the entire route. These obstacles are removed after obtaining permissions from the relevant departments and officials. He predicts that the delivery of the reactor to Lakhimpur Kheri will take another two to three weeks.
In Varanasi, the main problems for this giant trailer were the existing overhead structures on the road, especially concerning height. According to available information, it may be necessary to dismantle or change the configuration of approximately six bridges along the route. Considering the height, width, and length of this 308-wheel trailer, it is not ordinary freight transport, and the route is pre-inspected for such factors. Movement is carried out taking into account factors such as power lines, bridges, pedestrian crossings, turns, and road capacity.
The logistics group accompanies the transport with additional trailers, hydraulic manipulators, trucks, and other tools. These vehicles are used to extract the transport or prepare the route in case of getting stuck or any other obstacles.
This reactor left Belgium in April. First, it was delivered by sea to Paradeep port in Odisha, and then it was transported by land through Odisha, Jharkhand, and Bihar to the state of Uttar Pradesh. The delivery of such large and heavy industrial equipment from one state to another is a complex logistical operation requiring the use of special multi-axle trailers. The total cost of this transportation is estimated at over 100 million rupees.
The reactor is intended for an important industrial project at the Kumbi sugar factory in Lakhimpur Kheri. As part of this project, polylactic acid (PLA) is planned to be produced from sugarcane. PLA is used as a substitute for plastic in packaging and disposable items and belongs to biodegradable materials.
The most significant reason for this entire journey is not the 308-wheel trailer itself, but the reactor being transported for the PLA plant at the Kumbi sugar factory in Lakhimpur Kheri. According to the project plan, polylactic acid (PLA) will be produced from sugar. PLA can be used as an alternative to plastic in various fields, including packaging and consumables, and is classified as a biodegradable product. The plant is planned to be built on the premises of the Kumbi sugar factory with investments of about 30 billion rupees. Foreign technology is used in the project, and foreign specialists are involved in the technical equipment.
After the reactor arrives in Lakhimpur Kheri, the next stage will begin—its installation. According to officials, the process of installing the reactor...
