Fadnavis unfurls tricolour atop 200-foot flag mast in Nagpur

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday unfurled the national flag while inaugurating a 200-foot-high flag mast at Kasturchand Park in Nagpur, creating one of the tallest tricolour installations in the region.

The towering mast carries a 60-foot by 40-foot national flag , symbolising India’s unity in diversity, secular ethos and democratic values enshrined in the Constitution. The dedication ceremony was held at around 9.30 am and was attended by several public representatives, civic officials and citizens.

The project was executed through the joint initiative of the Lokmat Media Group and the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) . The event was presided over by Dr Vijay Darda , chairman of the Lokmat Media Group editorial board and former Rajya Sabha member.

Speaking on the occasion, Fadnavis highlighted Nagpur’s importance as a cosmopolitan city and referred to the historic Zero Mile landmark , which marks the geographical centre of colonial India and continues to serve as a key reference point for measuring distances across the country.

According to organisers, the monument was conceptualised in 2009 by Dr Vijay Darda , but the project required years of coordination with several government departments before it could be realised.

The foundation stone was laid on October 28, 2016, by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari during a ceremony attended by civic leaders and officials.

The project’s design was prepared by US-based architect Shantanu Bhalla , while architect Shantanu Bajaj oversaw the execution of the structure. Officials said the district administration and civic authorities played a key role in facilitating approvals and implementation of the project.

Darda described the inauguration as a moment of pride for Nagpur , expressing hope that the towering flag mast would inspire patriotism among the younger generation and become a prominent civic landmark in the city, popularly known as the Orange City .