Tallest National Flag plan on, Airports Authority of India permission awaited
Hyderabad: Officials of the Roads and Buildings department are currently making arrangements for Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao to unfurl the largest national flag on the tallest flag post in the country on June 2. But meanwhile, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) is yet to give permission for the 303-feet-high flag post.
Officials however say they are confident of getting the permission and that the flag post material from Kolkata and the flag, along with a 500-tonne capacity crane, have started from Mumbai by road. They are expected to reach Hyderabad on May 30 and officials will assemble and erect the pole on May 31. A trial run will be conducted on June 1 .
“A three-member official team from AAI had inspected the site. They went back to place their report to the AAI committee which clears the height for such projects. We are confident of getting permission. The work on the foundation for the flag post has already been completed at Sanjeevaiah Park,” said a senior official.
But what if the AAI denies permission for a 303-feet pole? Will the officials reduce the height to 51-metres or 167 feet? “We are very optimistic that we will get permission. If not we can reduce the height by a few feet, ensuring that it is still taller than the one in Ranchi (which currently has the tallest flag),” said another official.
Skipper Limited, a firm in Kolkata, has made the flag post, while the flag itself has been made by the Flag Foundation Of India in Mumbai. Another spare flag is also being readied in Khammam district.
“The flag coming from Mumbai will be hoisted on the tallest pole at 303 feet height. The spare will be used if the one from Mumbai needs to be replaced later,” said the official. AAI authorities here had given permission for a 51-metre (167 feet) pole. AAI officials have forwarded the application of the TS government to their headquarters in Delhi to erect the 303-feet flag post.
TS government is now pursuing with the Centre to get permission for at least 90 metres (295 feet) to fulfill the CM’s plan of having the tallest flag. The one at Ranchi stands at height of 293 feet.
