Indian Railways decides to install 100-ft tall tricolours at 75 stations
At least 100-ft tall tricolours will be installed on the premises of 75 of the busiest stations across the country, including seven in Mumbai, the Indian Railways has decided. The tricolours will be installed by the end of this year. The order by the Railway Board, the apex body of the national transporter, was issued on October 22, which was forwarded to all the zonal railways.
As per the order, the authorities concerned have been asked to complete the flag installation work by the end of next month.
"The Board has decided to provide monumental flag (of at least 100-ft height) at all the erstwhile 'A1' class railway stations. The work should be completed by December 2018," said the order issued by Vivek Saxena, Railway Board executive director (station development).
The cost of the work many be charged under umbrella work of 'Soft upgrades improvement at stations', it said.
Mumbai houses seven A-1 category stations - Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT), Dadar, Thane, Kalyan, Mumbai Central and Bandra Terminus.
"The flag should be provided in circulating area of the stations and at suitable place. It should be provided with focused lights. The security and safety of the flag shall rest with Railway Protection Force (RPF)," the order says.
A senior CR officer said they have received the communication and places to install the flags were being
identified.
"The priority of the Railways should be upgrading the passenger amenities and installation of flags is certainly not related to that. I don't think mere installation of flags will instil a sense of patriotism in people," said Ratan Poddar, a member of the Zonal Railway Users Consultative Committee (ZRUCC) panel set up by the WR.
