Kochi Families Reject Proposed Relocation, Demand Justice for Faulty Towers

For forty tense days, they've held their ground outside crumbling towers in Mundamveli. Now, the families of P&T Apartment Complex have delivered their verdict: they will not accept relocation to Thuruthy Towers, despite a district administration proposal suggesting exactly that.

A Firm Stand Against Compromise

These families aren't just asking for a roof over their heads. They want dignity, security, and accountability. "We want to be rehabilitated in fresh structures with title deeds," says Abhilash P. Parameswaran, president of the residents' association. His words carry the weight of months of frustration. "We also demand compensation for the mental trauma and hardships endured."

They've suffered since January 2024, when they moved into what should have been their dream homes. Instead, they got twin towers so poorly constructed that rectification might cost nearly half the original construction price.

The Official Proposal and Its Shortcomings

District Collector G. Priyanka's four-point plan suggested Thuruthy Towers as a potential solution. The 12-story complex in Kalvathy division was originally intended for homeless families from Thuruthy Colony. The proposal also pointed to the Konthuruthy model, where 126 families received ₹14 lakh each in compensation.

But residents see this as missing the point entirely. They want permanent solutions, not temporary fixes. They want those responsible for the shoddy construction held accountable—even arrested.

"We want to be rehabilitated in fresh structures with title deeds. We also demand compensation for the mental trauma and hardships endured by families since their rehabilitation in the P&T Apartment Complex in January 2024. Those responsible for corruption behind the faulty construction should also be arrested and punished."
— Abhilash P. Parameswaran, president of P&T Apartment Owners Association

Roots of the Crisis

The problems run deeper than leaking pipes and cracked walls. Former GCDA Chairperson K. Chandran Pillai points to fundamental design flaws. "The steel-based construction was not fit for our climate," he notes, describing how humidity and coastal weather accelerated deterioration.

Meanwhile, the GCDA—which built the towers—lacks an executive committee to approve necessary repairs following a change in state government. The agency has submitted rectification measures recommended by IIT Madras, but the path forward remains unclear.

Both the Kochi Corporation Council and the LSGD have called for vigilance inquiries into alleged corruption. But for families watching their homes decay around them, investigations offer little comfort tonight.