Demolition experts inspect Chander Kunj towers

Kochi: Experts began preliminary inspections at Chander Kunj Army Towers on Silver Sand Island, Vyttila, on Sunday morning, ahead of the proposed demolition of the towers following a high court directive.The inspection team comprised Mumbai-based Edifice Engineering partner Uttkarsh Mehta, South Africa’s Jet Demolition operations manager Kevin Smit and technician Robert Brinkmann. The same team was part of Supreme Court-ordered demolition of Maradu apartment complexes, which were razed for severe coastal regulation zone (CRZ) rule violations.Mehta said they conducted an internal preparatory analysis with support from residents welfare association (RWA). “The team from South Africa was in India in connection with another blast. They wanted to check the stability and structural strength of the buildings so that we can decide the best and quickest option to prepare the building for demolition. It was our internal study to understand the structure well,” he said.He said the team is examining the structural strength, load-bearing capacity, concrete quality, status of reinforcement and overall behaviour of the buildings.

Under the terms of contract, the towers are to be demolished within six months. The inspection will determine the extent of damage to the towers’ structural elements.“We are doing some non-destructive tests, which can give us some understanding of the buildings and how it can behave. If it was a proper building, we would know the structure’s behaviour but here it is damaged, so we need to understand it further,” he said.He said agreement for the demolition is due to be signed and the earlier it takes place, the better. Nearby apartment buildings and Kochi Metro rail track won’t be affected, as they are located more than 50m away from the towers, he added. “We have executed projects as close as 9m with no structural damage to surrounding buildings,” he said.“The design will be totally different compared to the Maradu buildings even though it will be implosion here as well. We need to ensure that minimal vibrations are passed out, considering structures, including A tower, in the vicinity,” he said.Mehta said the decision on whether the buildings would be demolished simultaneously was yet to be taken.HC ordered the demolition and reconstruction of the dilapidated towers B and C of Chander Kunj Army Towers in 2025.