Trivandrum: Come August 15 and the nation will celebrate its 65th independence day. Nothing could have made Trivandrumites prouder than witnessing the huge tri-color flag being hoisted up the 206 foot high flag pole. But the citizens would have to be disappointed this year, because the office of Shahsi Tharoor, MP, confirms that the flag pole will take 'atleast' one more month to attain a vertical stance.

“We might get the NOC from the Airport Authority by August 15; but to have it erected requires special machinery that needs to be transported from Chennai. The process would need atleast one more month, anyway you look at it,” says Praveen, Secretary to Shashi Tharoor.

With all the technical snags and delays, the project is now over one year old and still grappling with an obscure time frame as to when the pole would be finally erected. The announcement had been made that Trivandrum was to be the proud host of the nation's tallest flag pole last June. Since then, the pole has been transported in segments, joined together, given an ornamental cap at the top, with the platform to hold the pole also made ready in the meantime.