New Delhi/Mumbai: The Railway Board has reportedly said that 75 of the busiest railway stations in the country must install 100-foot-tall national flags on their premises. According to a report in the Mumbai Mirror, this directive was sent to 75 stations whose annual earnings exceed Rs 50 crore.These flags, which will each cost close to Rs 9 lakh to install, must be in place by December 31, 2018, according to the report.“The Railway Board circular has directed that flags should have focus lights, and the Railway Protection Force has been tasked to safeguard it. The cost to install a flag will be around Rs 9 lakh considering the lights and other decorative pieces,” a source told Mumbai Mirror.The Railway Board, the apex body of the national transporter, issued the order to this effect on October 22, which has been forwarded to all the zonal railways.Mumbai has seven stations that fall in the designated category.The order issued by Vivek Saxena, Railway Board executive director (station development), says, “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.”“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.Chief spokesperson of the Western Railway Ravinder Bhakar said, “The Railway Board’s order will be followed in letter and spirit and our team will do our best to complete the installation work within the deadline.”Passenger representatives, however, expressed reservations over the move.Ratan Poddar, a member of the Zonal Railway Users Consultative Committee (ZRUCC) panel set up by the WR, said, “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.”A source in the railways also told Mumbai Mirror that there are plans to paint coaches of local trains in the tricolour. “Already, the tricolour has been painted on several first-class compartments of local trains. More trains will be covered in the coming months.”(With PTI inputs)