Currently, the 'mighty' truck heading from Odisha to Lakhimur is a hot topic of discussion on social media in Uttar Pradesh. It is transporting a 164-ton wagon from Belgium, known as a vacuum boiler (vesel).
This wagon first arrived by sea at Paradeep port in Odisha, where it was loaded onto a 308-wheel truck and began its journey to the Kumbhi sugar factory in Lakhimur. The truck has passed through the states of Jharkhand and Bihar and is currently in Varanasi. It is expected to reach its final destination in about two weeks.
As this giant transport moves along the route, the landscape undergoes changes: pedestrian bridges must be dismantled, and large billboards and trees are removed. Observers gather in large groups to watch this process.
J.M Bakshi Heavy Company is responsible for delivering this massive machine from Europe to India. This company is considered one of the largest logistics firms in India, and its employees accompany the vehicle. A team of over 62 staff members accompanies the 'mighty' truck from Odisha to its destination. The entire convoy resembles a mobile settlement, where dozens of people eat, drink, and sleep together.
Of particular note is that three additional engines are used to tow this multi-axle truck. One engine pulls it on flat sections, but more than one engine is engaged when climbing inclines. The total time taken to deliver the machine from Belgium to Uttar Pradesh was six months, with about four months spent only on the journey from the port in Odisha to the current location.
Teams from the district administration, traffic police, power supply service, and NHAI are constantly working to clear obstacles in the path of this enormous vehicle, which is approximately 100 feet long and 7 meters wide. The convoy includes over 60 engineers and staff, as well as two additional trailers and two cranes.
Work continues to widen narrow roads, dismantle construction structures, and remove power lines, poles, and road signs. For instance, near the Dafi toll plaza in Varanasi, the road was widened, and the temporary dismantling of a three-foot bridge is currently underway. Previously, in Kamur, Bihar, part of a bridge also had to be demolished to create passage.
Due to these obstacles, the trailer can cover only 10–12 kilometers daily, whereas it covers 20 kilometers when the route is clear. The truck itself is equipped with a full range of facilities for feeding and housing 30 people. At night, when the long convoy stops, staff sleep in temporary shelters made of tarpaulin.
When the truck left Odisha for Uttar Pradesh, it was longer and had a total of 308 wheels. Later, some parts of the trailer were removed according to needs and convenience. Currently, the machine is being transported on a truck with a total of 260 wheels to Lakhimur.
