Handover of Chander Kunj Army Flats for demolition stalled as AWHO representatives did not turn up

The twin towers of Chander Kunj Army Apartment Complex in Vyttil, Kochi. (file) | Photo credit: THULASI KAKKAT

The handing over of 208 flats in Towers ‘B’ and ‘C’ of Chander Kunj Army Housing Complex at Silver Sand Island, Vyttila, Kochi to the Army Welfare Housing Organization (AWHO) for demolition remains on hold after AWHO representatives failed to turn up as agreed at a District Committee meeting held last week.

The committee, set up on the instructions of the Kerala High Court to oversee the demolition and reconstruction of the flats, has decided to start handing over the flats in the presence of the Kanayannur Tahsildar on Monday (October 5, 2026) and complete the process within a fortnight. While the flat owners from different parts of the state along with the finance division officer and the Tahsildar gathered in the clubhouse of the apartment complex, the AWHO representatives did not turn up.

“Owners from all over the state have come to hand over their flats based on the notice issued by the housing society. We were to hand over the keys of our flats along with an affidavit signed by AWHO and countersigned by the Tahsildar confirming AWHO’s commitment to return the renovated flats in place of our existing ones,” said AWHO in return to hand over the flats to Saji, AWHO to hand them over to demo, Thomas. president Chander Kunj Army Towers Apartment Owners Association (CATAOA).

Sources in the district administration confirmed that AWHO representatives did not arrive as agreed to take over the flats in accordance with the decision taken in the committee meeting. The meeting also decided that the district administration will sign a demolition contract with Mumbai-based Edifice Engineering later this week.

Reportedly, AWHO has informed the district administration officials that it is awaiting permission from its headquarters in Delhi.

However, CATAOA rejected the explanation as baseless and pointed out that AWHO representatives from Delhi participated in the committee meeting online and were party to the decisions taken there.

“Breach of district administration directives is unacceptable. All along we have demanded that the provisions of the Disaster Management Act be applied to ensure that AWHO is compliant,” Mr Thomas said.

The Collector’s Committee met after the Kerala High Court last month dismissed a petition filed by PK Unique Project Limited, a Tamil Nadu-based company, challenging the committee’s decision to award the demolition contract to Edifice Engineering. On 3 February 2025, the Supreme Court ordered the demolition and reconstruction of Towers B and C of Chander Kunj Army Towers, citing serious structural flaws in the buildings.

Published – 05 Oct 2026 14:35 IST