A committee headed by the Collector has set November 9, 2025, as the tentative date for the demolition of the towers.
| Photo Credit: file photo
The Kerala High Court has ordered that the monthly rent be increased for residents of Chander Kunj Army Towers built by the Army Welfare Housing Organisation (AWHO) at Vyttila, from ₹21,000 for those in its B tower to ₹30,000, and from ₹23,000 for those in its C tower to ₹35,000.
The High Court had earlier this year ordered the demolition and reconstruction of the two towers, after cracks were detected in them. The court directive came on review petitions filed by the residents. The court also took into account the need for them to live in alternative accommodation for approximately four years until the two towers of the apartment complex were demolished and rebuilt.
The directive will not be binding on those who are yet to occupy the apartments and those who had rented out their apartments.
The AWHO ought to bear the entire expenses of the demolition and reconstruction work. A total of 82 of the 264 apartment owners have expressed willingness to return their apartments and to buy back the amount. A committee headed by the District Collector will decide on the revised value of the apartments. The timeline set by the Collector in his affidavit dated May 21, 2025, shall be scrupulously adhered to, the court said.
The committee had set November 9, 2025, as the tentative date to demolish the twin towers and October 31, 2029, for handing over the newly built apartments. This was part of the elaborate four-phase plan the committee had drawn up for the proposed demolition and reconstruction starting with the evacuation of affected families by July 31.
The committee, with the Collector as convener and representatives of the AWHO and residents’ association, experts, and officials associated with the demolition and reconstruction of the towers had been formed in compliance with the High Court order dated February 3, 2025.
The affected families will be given three weeks’ notice ahead of the evacuation. The committee had in May asked the AWHO to release three months’ rent based on the category of the apartment units it had. Besides, each family should be given ₹30,000 each towards shifting charges.
According to the plan, the preparation of structures for demolition by implosion will take two months from September 1 to November 1, while November 9 has been set as the tentative date for their demolition.
Published – June 26, 2025 12:54 am IST
