Around 100,000 such single-home emergency air-raid shelters exist in the country. Homeowners are required to keep them available for emergencies as part of the country’s civil protection strategy.
However, Swiss public broadcaster SRF revealedExternal link on Friday that the federal government and cantons would like to phase them out due to the high cost of retrofitting them to remain operational.
The unpublished “Protective Structures Concept” of the Federal Office for Civil Protection states that private bunkers with fewer than seven spaces should be abolished. The ventilation units for such installations are over four decades old and have to be changed. However, these units are no longer manufactured and the cost of retrofitting the bunkers outweighs the benefits, according to the document. In addition, it was felt that there were too many of these small shelters for the civil defence force to manage in case of an emergency.
Switzerland has had a unique ‘shelters for all’ policy since 1963, at the height of the Cold War. Every person in the country must have a spot in a bunker in case of some kind of catastrophe. Bunkers either have to be built underneath homes and blocks of flats, or the building owner has to pay the local authorities for a spot in a public shelter.
For around 20 years, shelters have no longer had to be built in new houses. In principle, they are now only required for new buildings with 38 rooms or more.
Popular Stories
More
Life & Aging
Zurich: how the world capital of housing shortages is tackling the problem
In Switzerland more people are being referred to electrical therapies or psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. Are there similar approaches where you live?
Swiss defence minister reaffirms military cooperation with neighbours
This content was published on
On his first trip abroad in government, Defence Minister Martin Pfister visited the Swiss troops taking part in a major exercise in Austria.
Trade unions mobilise against right-wing extremist circles
This content was published on
Under the motto 'Solidarity instead of agitation - strong together!' May Day events are taking place throughout Switzerland this Thursday.
Left-wing extremists in Switzerland call for ‘militant’ rallies on May 1
This content was published on
Left-wing extremist groups are mobilising on social media. The violent activist scene is a focal point for the intelligence community.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Bunkers for all
This content was published on
“Why on earth have you got a reinforced steel door in your cellar?” The amazement of a visiting Italian friend is easy to understand. He has never been in the basement of a Swiss home. Cellar? Well, the room is half full of bottles of wine, old books, a freezer, unwanted clothes… but a cellar…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.