'Just 40 m away from metro'; Army tower in Vytilla also poses threat to Kochi metro rail line

KOCHI: The highly risky Chander Kunj Army Towers in Vyttila ​​Silver Sand Island also pose a threat to the Kochi Metro Rail. The metro line in the Vyttila- Tripunithura route is just 40m away from the C tower of the Army tower. B and C towers of the building are 97 meters tall. The complex built by the Army Welfare Housing Organization was handed over to residents almost five years ago.

Displacement of residents who are mostly soldiers and ex-servicemen won’t just end the issue as the towers impose a serious threat on the Metro Rail and the environment, claimed public activist Adv. N.K. Vishnuprasad in a complaint filed with the district and state disaster management authorities and the National Disaster Management Authority.

A November 5, 2023 report by the Madras IIT, which studied the building's structural integrity, had recommended vacating the 208 flats in the 29-storey B and C towers, which was deemed as highly risky to live. The December and January reports of Tripunithura Municipality and GCDA Executive Engineers also made the same recommendation. After receiving the report from the Public Works Department, the district administration is moving to hand over the file to the State Disaster Management Authority chaired by the Chief Minister.

A report has been sought from the District Collector in a case filed by a flat owner regarding the safety of buildings. The case will be heard again on March 1.