Harpreet Bajwa By

Express News Service

CHANDIGARH: The tallest national flag in the country measuring 360 feet was hoisted on Sunday at the Attari-Wagah joint checkpost in Punjab. Earlier, the record was held by the one in Ranchi which is 293 feet high. The new flag can be seen from Lahore in Pakistan.

The flag is 120 feet in length, 80 feet in breadth and is hosted on a pole which is 360 feet high. The concrete base is 30 feet in length and another 30 feet in breadth. The foundation has been designed in such a way that the flag will be able to withstand high velocity winds up to 180 km an hour, said sources.

Punjab Local Bodies Minister and senior BJP leader Anil Joshi hoisted the flag. “The contract for maintenance of the flag has been given to a private company for three years,” he said.

Joshi said that the flag will be an attraction for the tourists who visit the Attari border to watch the Beating the Retreat ceremony.

The cost of the project, borne by the Amritsar Improvement Trust, was around Rs 3.6 crore. This all-weather flag based on motorized mechanism will be lowered only in case of wear and tear.

Pakistan Rangers have already objected to the installation of the flag and conveyed the same to the BSF, said sources.