The tallest national flag in the country measuring 360-foot was hoisted on Sunday at the Attari-Wagah joint checkpost in Punjab. The flag is high enough to be spotted from lahore in Pakistan.
"This is the tallest National Flag in India. So high that it can be seen both from lahore as well as Amritsar," a senior Government functionary told The Pioneer, requesting anonymity. Both lahore and Amritsar are roughly 18 kilometres away from the Indo-Pak international border.
The move, costing around Rs 3.60 crore, came as a part of the Border Security Force's (BSF) expansion plans at the Attar-Wagah border.
The visitors' gallery at the site of iconic retreat ceremony is being developed to accommodate around 15,000 people considering the heavy rush to witness an impressive spectacle of aggressive acts and postures by the BSF troops and the Pakistani Rangers during high voltage ritual.
The official informed that the Pakistani authorities have already raised objections to the installation of the Indian flag. "They have objected to it and conveyed the same to the BSF authorities," the
official said.
Notwithstanding, the high mast flag is all set to become attention-grabbing. "Even as it was unveiled on Sunday, the 350-foot-high pole, on which the tricolour has been installed, has already become a major attraction…It would be a major attraction here," said the official.
Punjab local Bodies Minister and senior BJP leader Anil Joshi has described it as his "dream project". In fact, he had sought special permission of the Election Commission of India for the installation of the same considering the imposition of model code of conduct in the State.
Joshi hoisted the 55-tonnes flag in the presence of the BSF officials and administrative authorities. Amritsar city already has a 170 feet tall flag in the local Ranjit Avenue Public Park.
The flag is not only the tallest at 360 feet, but also the largest tricolour in the country with 120 x 80 feet dimensions.
Earlier, the tricolour installed at Jharkhand's Ranchi atop a 293-ft-high mast and 66 feet breadth and 99 feet length was holding the record for the tallest national flag. It was hoisted by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar last year. Before that, the record was for the one in Faridabad, on a 250 feet mast.
"Keeping in view the extreme weather conditions, special material has been used for this all-weather flag because at such heights it may get damaged by rain and high winds…It has been designed in such a way that it can survive high velocity winds up to 180 km an hour," said the official adding that it is based on motorized mechanism which will be lowered only in case of wear and tear.
For its maintenance the contract has been given to a private company for three years. The cost was borne by Amritsar Improvement Trust Authority, under the Punjab Government.
The flag pole, 110 meters in height and 24 metres in width, has been set up about 150 meters away from the border, near the tourism building. For the installation and transportation of the flagpole, special cranes along with seven big trolleys were pressed into service from Mumbai.
Earlier, the tallest and largest tricolour was scheduled to be hoisted on January 26, but was delayed due to some technical reasons.