Installation of MiG-21, Gnat aircraft to cost Rs 25.69 lakh

This museum, which will display different aircraft of the Indian Air Force and also depict the role played by the services in various wars, is being set up at Government Press Building in Sector 18. Officials said that the centre is set to have eight attractions, including aircraft models and weapon displays, and the biggest attraction will be its very own flight simulator

4 min readChandigarhNov 4, 2022 07:29 AM IST

UT Administrator Banwarilal Purohit, Chandigarh MP Kirron Kher and officers of Indian Air Force during the signing of MoU for the Air Force Heritage Centre Building. (File)

Installation of MiG-21 aircraft and Gnat aircraft on pole of the UT press building in Sector 18 will cost Rs 25.69 lakh to the Chandigarh Administration for the Indian Air Force Heritage Centre that is to be developed here. Providing and fixing the false ceiling in the museum hall will cost Rs 23.41 lakh.

As the work of the Indian Air Force Heritage Centre has been asked to be expedited, tenders in this regard have been floated by the engineering wing of the Chandigarh Administration.

It was on June 3 this year that the Indian Air Force and Chandigarh Administration signed a memorandum of understanding. Though the first deadline for opening of the centre was fixed as August 15, the same has already missed the deadline.

This museum, which will display different aircraft of the Indian Air Force and also depict the role played by the services in various wars, is being set up at Government Press Building in Sector 18. Officials said that the centre is set to have eight attractions, including aircraft models and weapon displays, and the biggest attraction will be its very own flight simulator.

It was also stated that in addition, the informative exhibits, including aero engines, aircraft, kiosks and other Air Force artefacts, including machines/fixtures, films on achievements and personalities and guides, will also be set up.

The tender stated that the estimated cost would be Rs 25,69,523. It was specified that the criteria for the agency that will carry out the work would be the one “having satisfactorily completed similar works during the last seven years ending last day of the previous month in which the tender has been invited.” The bids have been called till November 9.

This joint project of Chandigarh Administration and IAF is planned to be completed by this year.

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According to the administration, the heritage centre will have artefact, simulators and interactive boards to highlight various facets of IAF.

It will also showcase the vital role played by the service in various wars and assistance rendered for humanitarian and disaster relief.

As part of the criteria for installing the MIG -21 and the other one on the pole, it was also mentioned that the agency that will take over the work may have done three similar works each having value not less than Rs 10,27,809 or two similar works each having value not less than Rs 15,41,714 or one similar work of value not less than Rs 20,55,618.

Similar work here means “successful execution and completion of works for Installation of Aircraft
on MS Pole”. It was also said that the value of executed works shall be brought to current costing level by enhancing the actual value of work at simple rate of 7% per annum calculated from date of completion to last date of receipt of tenders.

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The bidder has also been asked to furnish an affidavit and also ensure that affidavit has not been blacklisted and has carried out similar works and other undertakings, should not be older than four months from the date of opening, it was said, adding that all bidders (except for the contractors enlisted with Chandigarh Administration in respective categories) should have bidding capacity equal to or more than the estimate cost of the work put to tender.

At the same time, it was clearly mentioned that no employee of engineering department is allowed to work as a contractor for a period of two years after his retirement from government service, without the previous permission of the Chandigarh Administration in writing.

This contract is liable to be cancelled if either the contractor or any of his employees is found any time to be such a person who had not obtained the permission of the Chandigarh Administration, the conditions specified.

Hina Rohtaki

Hina Rohtaki is a Special Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. She is one of the most prominent journalists covering the Chandigarh Administration, civic issues, and the unique political status of the Union Territory. Professional Background Experience: She has been in the field for over a decade and is known for her investigative reporting on administrative waste and urban governance. Awards: She is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award, which was presented to her by the President of India in January 2020. She was also awarded the Jethmalani prize (The Will of Steel Awards) in 2025 in the Empowerment category for a series of articles that highlighted the struggles of Covid widows. Core Beat: Her primary focus is the Chandigarh administrative structure, the Union Territory's financial management, and urban development projects. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent work highlights a focus on government accountability, administrative expenditures, and civic trends: 1. Investigative & Financial Reporting "Fuelling power: Senior UT IAS officers guzzled petrol worth Rs 30 lakh in 2 yrs" (Dec 14, 2025): An investigative report detailing the high fuel bills of top bureaucrats, including the Finance Secretary and Chief Secretary’s staff. "Admn spends Rs 1.5 crore on dismantling road railings and fixing again after increasing height" (Dec 8, 2025): Highlighting administrative waste on "non-viable" solutions for pedestrian control. "Chandigarh’s finances under ministry’s watch now" (Nov 27, 2025): Reporting on the new requirement for MHA approval for all new projects in the UT. 2. Governance & Constitutional Status "What will it mean for Chandigarh if it is brought under Article 240?" (Nov 24, 2025): An "Explained" piece on the potential constitutional shift that would grant the President more power over the UT's governance. "MP Manish Tewari moves Bill seeking directly elected Mayor with 5-year tenure" (Dec 6, 2025): Covering the legislative push to reform Chandigarh's municipal leadership structure. "No proposal to increase Mayor's term in Chandigarh by 5 years: Centre" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on the Union government's response to demands for a longer mayoral term. 3. Urban Infrastructure & Environment "Chandigarh admn cuts power to India's tallest air purifier, asks firm to dismantle it" (Nov 17, 2025): A critical report on the failure of a high-cost environmental project deemed "of no use" by experts. "UT rethinks 24/7 water supply project as costs soar" (Nov 26, 2025): Detailing the financial challenges and delays in modernizing the city's water network. "Centre 'obfuscating, covering up' MC's shifting deadlines for clearing Dadu Majra dump" (Dec 12, 2025): Reporting on the ongoing controversy surrounding the city's major waste dump. 4. Lifestyle & Local Trends "Chandigarh turns into a Thar city as women fuel the surge" (Dec 2, 2025): A feature on a unique automotive trend in the city, with a record 600 registrations by women drivers this year. "After fivefold spike in 2023, EV sales struggle to pick pace in Chandigarh" (Dec 2, 2025): Analyzing the slowdown in electric vehicle adoption despite previous surges. Signature Beat Hina is known for her meticulous tracking of RTI (Right to Information) data to expose administrative inefficiency. Her "Ground Zero" reporting on the Dadu Majra garbage dump and her scrutiny of the Chandigarh Smart City projects have made her a key figure in the city’s civil society discourse. X (Twitter): @HinaRohtaki ... Read More

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