AWHO absence stalls handover of 208 army apartments in Kochi

The handover of 208 apartments in towers B and C of the Chander Kunj Army apartment complex in Vyttila, Kochi, was delayed after Army Welfare Housing Organisation (AWHO) representatives failed to appear at the scheduled meeting. The handover was to take place on Monday, October 5, 2026, in the presence of the Kanayannur Tahsildar, as decided by a District Collector‑led committee formed on the Kerala High Court’s direction. The committee had planned to complete the transfer within two weeks. Apartment owners from across Kerala, the Revenue Divisional Officer and the Tahsildar gathered at the complex’s clubhouse, but AWHO officials did not show up. Saji Thomas, president of the Chander Kunj Army Towers Apartment Owners Association (CATAOA), said owners were ready to hand over keys with an affidavit signed by AWHO and countersigned by the Tahsildar, confirming AWHO’s promise to return rebuilt flats after demolition. District officials confirmed the no‑show and noted that the committee also intended to sign a demolition contract with Mumbai‑based Edifice Engineering later that week. AWHO later told the district it was waiting for authorisation from its Delhi headquarters. CATAOA rejected this excuse, pointing out that AWHO’s Delhi representatives had participated in the committee meeting online and were aware of the decisions. Thomas called the breach of the administration’s directives “unacceptable” and urged that the Disaster Management Act be invoked to compel AWHO’s compliance.

Context

The Kerala High Court ordered the demolition and reconstruction of the towers in February 2025 after finding serious structural flaws, and the current delay threatens the court‑mandated timeline for rebuilding safe housing for army families.