If things go as per the plan, Rourkela will set a new world record of organising a 16- km-long national flag rally on the Independence Day on ring road on Thursday.

The Smile Forever, a volunteer organisation, has been working untiringly to set the new record here in association with a host of other socio-cultural and voluntary organisations of the city.

Sources said in an effort to display unity by involving different sections of society, the members of the ‘Smile Forever’ have come up with the unique plan. They also aim to register the feat in the Guinness Book of World Record.

Sources said a foundation of Raipur, recently, had entered its name in the Champions Book of world record for displaying longest 15 km tricolor flag at Raipur in Chhattisgarh. The organisers are obviously hopeful of registering their name in the Guinness Book.

“We are sure that we will make the world record. We have already intimated to the Guinness Book authority regarding this and they have told us to send them video footage of the event,” said Smile Forever advisor Archana Barik.

The organisers, besides taking up the daunting task of preparing the 16 km long national flag, have made elaborate arrangement for its display on the Independence Day.  According  to the organisers, the tricolor would be taken on shoulders by people from all walks of life on one side of the ring road from Hanuman Vatika to Sector-2 square via DAV square, Chhend Ispat market square.  As many as 30,000 volunteers, including school students, will hold this flag and participate in a mass singing of national anthem. Besides, some socio-cultural and volunteer organisations will also participate in the mega show.

The event will also highlight folk dances of Odisha along with Indian classical dance forms to be displayed in plateaus. There will be patriotic song renditions by vocal artistes too in the tableaus. One of the tableaus will be entirely dedicated for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre as a mark of tribute to the freedom fighters as this year marks the 100th year of the event.

As soon as the rally covers the entire course, all citizens will stand to sing the national anthem.

Parents of martyr Amar Jawan Ajit Kumar Sahoo, Santosh Kumar Sahoo and Kumuduni Sahoo will be felicitated by the foundation for the sacrifice of their sons.  Santosh Kumar Sahoo will hoist the national flag.

The organisers reportedly has engaged as many as 22 tailors here at Rourkela to stitch the flag.