Kerala HC gives conditional nod for demolition of dilapidated Chander Kunj towers in Kochi

Kochi: High court on Friday permitted the authorities to proceed with the demolition of the dilapidated towers of Chander Kunj Army Tower at Vyttila in Kochi, observing that the demolition would be subject to the outcome of a petition challenging the award of the contract to a Mumbai-based company.The bench of Justice A A Ziyad Rahman passed the order in a petition filed by PK Unique Projects Pvt Ltd, based in Tiruvallur, Tamil Nadu, challenging the award of the demolition contract to Edifice Engineering, a Mumbai-based company. The court further directed the respondents, including the Ernakulam district collector and Army Housing Welfare Organisation, to file their counter-affidavits in response to the petition.Appearing for the state govt, the additional advocate general submitted that the contract had been awarded to the Mumbai-based company in view of its technical expertise and experience in carrying out such operations, including ensuring that the demolition is undertaken without adversely affecting nearby buildings. Recording the submission, the court stated that the pendency of the petition would not preclude the demolition process and adjourned the matter to July 14.

The petitioner company alleged in its petition that, despite being the lowest bidder for the demolition contract, it was excluded from consideration without any reason being assigned and that the contract was awarded to a preferred bidder, Edifice Engineering, in disregard of the conditions and guidelines governing the tender process. The petitioner further alleged that, although the district collector’s committee had informed it that a work order would be issued in its favour, no such order was issued even after a considerable lapse of time.

Upon making enquiries with the office of the executive engineer, PWD buildings division, the petitioner learnt that a decision had been taken to award the work to the Mumbai-based company, prompting it to approach HC.Earlier, in Feb 2025, the court had directed the demolition and reconstruction of Towers B and C of the Chander Kunj Army Tower complex at Silver Sand Island, Vyttila, in view of their dilapidated condition.