November 9 tentatively set for demolition of Chander Kunj Twin Army Towers in Kochi

The Hindu

28-05-2025

The district committee has set November 9, 2025 as the tentative date for the demolition of the twin towers of Chander Kunj Army Towers at Vytilla in Kochi, Kerala, and October 31, 2029 for handing over the newly built apartments.
This was part of the elaborate four-phase plan the committee has drawn up for the proposed demolition and reconstruction of the twin towers starting with the evacuation of affected families by July 31.
The district committee, with the District Collector as convener and representatives of the Army Welfare Housing Organisation (AWHO), residents association, experts and officials associated with the demolition and reconstruction, was formed in compliance with the Kerala High Court order dated February 3, 2025.
Two months for the evacuation of the affected families marks the first phase of the process. The affected families will be given three weeks' notice ahead of evacuation. The committee has asked AWHO to release three months' rent based on the category of the apartment unit they have been holding as decided by the court. Besides, each family should be given ₹30,000 each towards shifting charges. AWHO has been asked to make the first payment to the apartment owners by June 17, 2025.
The demolition of the towers will mark phase two. It would start with the invitation of tender for demolition on July 1, 2025, followed by its finalisation on August 7, 2025. Two months between August 16, 2025 and October 16, 2025, would be devoted to the preparation of the engineering design for the demolition.
Demolition by implosion
Preparation of structures for demolition by implosion would take two months from September 1 to November 1. November 9 has been set as the tentative date for demolition. Cleaning of the demolition site by removing the debris is likely to be completed in two months by January 9, 2026.
Finalisation of the project management consultant (PMC) would mark the third phase. The tender for PMC would be invited on July 8 and finalised on August 2. This will be followed by the invitation and finalisation of tender for civil contractor in EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) Contract by December 7, 2025.
The design would be finalised between January 9, 2026, and February 28, 2026, and approved by March 31, 2026. The six-month-long piling and foundation works between April 1, 2026 and October 30, 2026, would mark the beginning of the fourth phase. Reconstruction works would be finished in two-and-a-half years by July 31, 2029. Yard levelling, numbering of the apartments and their eventual handover would be completed in the next two months.