The much-awaited launch of Marathi daily Sakal in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra has culminated with the Nagpur edition on March 10. The paper, with an initial print run of 70,000, was launched on March 9 by Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar in the city.

The inaugural issue comprised 40 pages and marks the seventh edition for the 72-year old publication, which has six others in Mumbai, Pune, Nasik, Aurangabad, Kolhapur and Solapur. "We are a complete paper feeding entire Maharashtra, "asserts Purnima Pendse, senior advisor - corporate communications, Sakal. "The Nagpur edition will be distributed in all the 11 districts of Vidarbha," she adds.

The group hopes to achieve a circulation target of one-lakh copies in the first year of operation.