Maradu\'s demolition derby concludes: Four waterfront properties are now history

Kochi:

Kochi: The second day of the demolition of luxury skyscrapers violating Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) rules in the Maradu suburb of Kochi went faster than the first.

Controlled implosions of the Jain Coral Cove and Golden Kayaloram apartment complexes took less than 10 seconds each. Two others, Holy Faith H₂O and Alfa Serene, were demolished on Saturday.

The 18-storeyed Jain Coral Cover, the biggest of the four with 125 living units, was the first to go on Sunday. It collapsed in less than eight seconds after personnel of Mumbai-based Edifice Engineers pressed the switch at an initiation point 70 m from the building.

A total of 372 kg of explosives was used to bring down the building. It resulted in 25000 tonnes of rubble.

Golden Kayaloram along the banks of the Chambakkara canal near National Highway 66, was the the fourth and final apartment to be demolished, half an hour later than scheduled.

With this, a legal battle of more than 13 years came to an end, and the authorities heaved a sigh of relief.