Photo added by Higgypop
PINDAR is a secure government bunker complex, constructed in the 1990s beneath the Ministry of Defence headquarters on Whitehall in Central London.
Date added: 6th Jun 2011 | Updated: 8th Jan 2012
Planning for a super secure bunker, situated beneath the Ministry of Defence's headquarters on Whitehall started in 1979, it is known as PINDAR or the Joint Operations Centre.
Constructions started on PINDAR in 1987, the bunker was built within the shell of a Second World War Crisis Command Center, part of which has remained opporational post-war.
It took five years for the bunker to be completed, the delay was due to disputes between contractors and internal arguments about who was going to be paying parts of the £126 million bill.
£66 million of this controversial bill was spent on an overhaul of 50s, Crisis Command Center, which consisted of an upgrade to include the latest communications systems such as a huge situation room screen and video conferencing equipment.
Originally planned to be a small, short term facility, the role of PINDAR was expanded in the mid 80s to act as a secure meeting place and provide the Government with a protected crisis management facility. It can protected its inhabitants during and after nuclear attack or during civil unrest.
Spread over atleast two levels, the bunker is fitted with bunks and accommodation for its staff, catering facilities designed to support operations for as long as is considered operationally necessary, toilets and a broadcast studio. All routes in to the bunker are bomb-proof blast doors and a variety of routes exist which would enable the occupants to escape from the facility in the event that the MOD building above it should collapse, the whole bunker is shielded against electro-magnetic pulses which are capable of damaging electronic equipment.
Despite its proximity to the District Line on the London Underground network, PINDAR is actually deeper than the tube and is not connected to any transport system, although it is rumoured to have an underground connection to Downing Street.
PINDAR is always manned by a permanent staff, but should it be put in to full operation use, it would house the heads of government, senior military and civilian personnel, emergency service and civilian support staff.
The bunker's Crisis Command Center is currently used several times a year for simulation purposes to play out war game scenarios.
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