CPWD Floats ₹2.64 Crore Tender to Install Bulletproof Glass in MEA HQ

In Jawaharlal Nehru Bhawan in the capital Delhi, the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) has issued a tender to install bulletproof glass in the rooms of External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. According to the tender document, the estimated cost of this project is around Rs 2.64 crore, and it has been targeted to be completed in two months.

Jawaharlal Nehru Bhawan is the headquarters of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). It is a restricted area and the movement of vehicles is often limited here due to security reasons. The document states that contractors will have to get passes in advance to work.

The CPWD said that the bulletproof glass will be selected at random and will be tested at the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL), Chandigarh, or the Gujarat Forensic Science Lab, Gandhinagar. The tender was opened on Tuesday, in which eight contractors submitted their bids. The selected contractor will have to prepare a detailed design and get approval from the Engineer-in-Charge before starting the work. Along with this, he will have to give a five-year guarantee bond for the entire work.

The tender document also states that the door and window frames will be made of 1.5 mm cold-rolled steel sheets. The bulletproof glass will not be made of polycarbonate material. The contractor will have to ensure the safety of all fittings and materials during the work until the building is formally handed over to the department.

The Central Public Works Department has also clarified that the contractors will have to inspect the site and its surroundings to ensure that they make their bid only after understanding all the circumstances. This step is being considered an important initiative towards further strengthening the security of the Ministry of External Affairs.