Hyderabad: Hyderabad is unlikely to have the tallest flag post in the country.
A high-level committee of Airports Authority of India has given permission for a 275-feet height as against 303 feet or at least 295-feet sought by the Telangana government.

Earlier, the AAI in Hyderabad had given permission for 167 feet or 51-metres flag post height, and forwarded the application of Telangana government seeking green signal for 303 feet, to AAI headquarters in New Delhi.

A three-member high-level committee from AAI visited the project site in Sanjeevaiah Park and went back to Delhi. Based on the report submitted by the committee, AAI headquarters have given a go ahead for flag post up to 275 feet height.

However, Telangana government officials have not lost hope yet. “There is still time as flag hoisting will be done on June 2. Last-ditch efforts are being made to get permission for at least 295-feet, as it would be 2-feet taller than the one at Ranchi, the tallest in the country to date,” a senior official said.

Birla Mandir atop Naubat Pahad is at 280-feet height and close to Begumpet airport, and there are other buildings in and around Gachi Bowli, particularly in the financial district at Nanakramguda that are over 300 feet high.

AAI officials said there are certain parameters that are taken into consideration while giving permission. “Just because there is another taller building located some distance away from this project site, it doesn’t not mean that permission has to be given,” said an official.

Many unipoles have fallen due to high-speed winds recently in Hyderabad damaging cars and snapping power supply. Roads and Buil-dings Department officials said they have built the foundation to hold 303-feet height flag post. It is made of mild steel and weighs 50 tonnes.

“We have taken into consideration the wind speeds hitting the city and laid the foundation accordingly," a R&B official said.