Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, July 22

The state capital will soon have the tallest Tricolour in the state at the historic Ridge ground from the first week of August.

The 150-foot-high flag post will be erected opposite the Ashiana restaurant and flash lights installed to make the flag visible even at night.

The famous Christ church on The Ridge is already a landmark of Shimla, but the national flag will be another distinct feature in its vicinity and visible from almost all parts of the city and adjoining areas. A 108-foot-tall idol of Lord Hanuman had already been installed at the Jakhu temple, the highest peak in Shimla (8,050 feet).

Although the 250-ft and 207-ft-high Tricolours have been installed at Faridabad and Delhi, the one at The Ridge stands out as it has been set up at an altitude of 7,250 feet and the height of the flag from the sea level will be 7,400 feet.

The Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC) has made the necessary preparations for hoisting the flag before this Independence Day and roped in Ambuja Cements Limited, which would bear the cost of the flag and its installation.

SMC Deputy Mayor Tikender Singh Panwar said, “The Tricolour is our national pride and instills a sense of patriotism and what can be a better place to hoist the flag than Shimla which is not only an internationally renowned city and the erstwhile summer capital of British India.”