Quite disappointing
Day before Parliament security breach, CPWD floated tender for additional security
Just a day before the security breach in the Lok Sabha, the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) floated a tender for additional security infrastructure, including gadgets and bulletproof barriers, for the Parliament complex.
The CPWD, the agency responsible for the complex’s construction and maintenance, Tuesday sought pre-qualification bids for “redevelopment of reception lounge, security blocks, E&M [electrical and mechanical] services, security gadgets, bullet-proof morchas and external development including sewerage and drainage etc”.
The project, titled “Redevelopment of reception lounge and other security infrastructure in Parliament Complex”, was estimated to cost Rs 35 crore and take five months to complete, as per the CPWD tender document.
A CPWD spokesperson declined to comment about the project. According to sources, the new Parliament building and the Parliament complex continue to be a work-in-progress.
Since the proceedings of both Houses shifted to the new building in August, minor tweaks to the building and completion of exterior facilities have been ongoing. Apart from seeking bids for additional security infrastructure, the CPWD this week also floated a Rs 50-crore tender for landscaping at the Parliament complex, including work on irrigation, drainage, roads, footpaths and horticulture.
According to sources, the gallery from which the intruders jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber is about 11 feet in height — less than the height of the galleries in the heritage Parliament building, or Samvidhan Sadan as it was renamed in August.
The galleries in the new building can accommodate more visitors and are not as steep as the ones in the old building, they said.
During the planning of the new building, permissions were taken from the Delhi Police, the Special Protection Group, Parliament Security and Delhi Fire Service, and all these agencies’ inputs regarding security were taken into account, a source said. For MPs and staff, facial recognition cameras are in operation at the entry gates, while visitors, like the attackers on Wednesday, are given a printed pass that is scanned at the gates, another source said.
The new Parliament building was constructed next to the old one, as a part of the larger Central Vista redevelopment plan of the government, and became functional during the Monsoon Session this year.
⚡ Best of Express: Read our full coverage of the Parliament security breach
👉🏽 On the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament attack, a massive security breach took place in Lok Sabha, when two intruders leapt into the chamber from the visitors gallery and opened smoke cans. Meanwhile, outside the Parliament, two others were arrested for protesting with coloured smoke.
👉🏽 But how did they manage to dodge layers of security inside the Parliament House? We explain.
👉🏽 Since the incident, the entry of visitors in the House has now been suspended. As one would expect, jumping into the chamber of the House is not permitted under the Rules of the House. What do the rules say? Read our report.
👉🏽 Turns out, just a day before the security breach, the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) floated a tender for additional security infrastructure, including gadgets and bulletproof barriers, for the Parliament complex. We break down the CPWD’s proposed project.
👉🏽 “I was at a vantage point, right outside the chamber from where more MPs rushed out – some anxious, the others agitated.” The Indian Express’ Deputy Editor Liz Mathew witnessed Wednesday’s intrusion from the media gallery of the Parliament. She recounts what happened.
Damini Nath – 2023-12-14 04:00