Ranchi: Defence Minister Manohar Parikar on Saturday hoisted the largest tricolour – a massive 99 feet long 66 feet wide – on the country's tallest flagpost at 293 feet here to mark Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's birth anniversary. Since it is placed on a hill, the tip of the flagpole is almost 500 feet from the ground.

Parikar arrived here on Saturday morning and directly went to the Pahari temple where he unfurled the national flag via remote control in the presence of Jharkhand Governor Druadi Murmu and Chief Minister Raghubar Das.

The project cost Rs.1.25 crore, including Rs.44 lakh for the tricolour. The flag was put on public display on Sunday at the Morabadi ground here.

According to people associated with the temple management, many freedom fighters were hanged by the British colonial rulers on the hill where the temple lies. The tricolour is hoisted at the temple every Republic Day and Independence Day. Now, it will be a permanent feature at the spot.

The previous highest flagpost at 250 ft is in Faridabad on the outskirts of the national capital, with the tricolour measuring 96X64 feet. With Republic day just three days, the preparations are going at its best.(IANS)