Army tower in Vyttila will have to be demolished; 160 families instructed to evacuate

KOCHI: Three huge flats built for soldiers in Vyttila at a cost of 160 crores and handed over five years ago are in danger. The inspection report says that the residents of 208 flats in two towers should be evacuated immediately.

It is indicated that there is no other option but to demolish the complex, which stands like a monument of massive corruption, with the concrete framework, beams and floors crumbling.

A joint inspection was conducted in November by the Thrippunithura Municipality and the GCDA on the instructions of the Collector. The Chennai IIT expert group had also given a similar suggestion earlier.

Municipal Assistant Executive Engineer BR Omprakash had said that it is impossible to maintain the building by repairing it in the report submitted to the Collector on January 29. GCDA Assistant Executive Engineer Y David also suggested in the report that the Army Tower should be declared uninhabitable if reinforcement is possible. The earlier inspection was conducted by IIT Chennai Civil Engineering Prof. Dr Radhakrishna G Pillai's team.

"Corruption" Towers

• The flat was built by Army Welfare Housing Organization (AWHO). Chander Kunj Army Towers is a complex located on Silversand Island, a private island near the Vyttila Mobility Hub.
• Three towers in 4.25 acres. The owners are soldiers and veterans. There are 264 flats. Tower A is 17 floors and Towers B and C are 29 floors each. There are also helipads. The price was 60-75 lakhs. Now the cost of land alone is 100 crores
• B and C towers are more damaged than A tower. These towers are falling apart from the basement. The wires of the giant pillars corroded and the concrete flaked off. Some parts of it are covered with plaster. The floors are falling off and the floor tiles are cracked

Cause of collapse

1. Substandard construction materials
2. Concreting using salt water
3. Proper supervision and inspection was not done

We are staying at the risk of our lives. Many people have spent their entire life savings for this place.

Col Sibi George (Retd.)