The Central Public Works Department (CPWD) is constructing the new parliament building for Afghanistan. While the building is still under construction, the department is of the view that the Afghan parliament will be one of the most secure parliament houses in the world.
In the wake of Taliban targeting the Afghanistan parliament in Kabul on Monday, just four kilometres away, some 150 Indian nationals including engineers, architects, skilled and unskilled labourers are toiling hard to build the new Afghanistan parliament building, which not only will be an architectural marvel but also, one of the most secure buildings in the world.
The Central Public Works Department (CPWD) is constructing the new parliament building for Afghanistan. While the building is still under construction, the department is of the view that the Afghan parliament will be one of the most secure parliament houses in the world.
The Afghanistan parliament building is being constructed by the Indian government. The project has missed several deadlines in the past. It was to be handed over to the Afghan government by 2012. However, differences between the ministry of external affairs and the erstwhile planning commission over the release of funds has led to delay in the project. The construction may be completed by the end of this year.
The planners and architects of the Afghan parliament say that the building besides being able to withstand terror attacks will also be able to withstand earthquakes of upto 8 on the richter scale. Afghanistan is on earthquake seismic zone 5.
"There are layers of security around the building. Besides the 10 feet high boundary wall, another 12 feet texas barrier surrounds the building," informed an officer on the condition of anonymity. The texas barrier is a movable wall made of dense concrete and is 6 to 8 metres thick.
Even as the Indian government is constructing the building, the area is under layers of security cover. The premises would be monitored by CCTV cameras and has tunnels that will help in exit in case of an attack.
"However, there is no provision to protect the building from an aerial attack. The 14.5 metre high dome is prominently visible from afar," added the officer. The Afghanistan parliament with a plinth area of 30,000 square meters will be the largest structure in the country. Besides the parliament building with both the Lower House and Upper House, the compund will have a museum, a press area, a library block, residential quarters for MPs, a mosque and a VIP guest house.
About 150 Indian nationals including engineers from CPWD, architects, and skilled and unskilled labourers are working on the project. The security of the under construction premises is being managed by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police and by local Afghanistan security forces.
"The Afghanistan government will be responsible for the security of the premises once construction is over. We are working on the designs to be approved by them," added the officer.
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