The last of Chintels Paradiso's towers to be assessed for structural defects was declared unsafe for habitation, closing a 34-month loop that has seen all nine residential towers of the condominium where flats sold for at a range of Rs 75 lakh to Rs 1 crore when it went to the market in 2012. In its latest report, Central Building Research Institute (CBRI) has found that Tower B has severe structural flaws, including widespread cracks, corroded reinforcement bars and substandard concrete, findings similar to those in the other towers.
What this means is that Tower B will also have to be evacuated and Paradiso will become perhaps the first modern condominium in the country – Paradiso was completed in 2011 – that will be brought to the ground, another dubious first for NCR, which has already seen the razing of the Supertech twin towers in Noida.
The structural assessments of Paradiso's towers began after a vertical collapse of living rooms of flats across five floors in Tower D on Feb 10, 2022 led to the death of two residents, which was followed by days of protests on the compound, with residents accusing the developer of not reacting on time to concerns like sagging balconies that they had raised.
Tower D was evacuated immediately after the cave-in. The other towers followed over the months, a process that was slow but had an air of inevitability about it as tower after tower was found to have the same defects. "Corrosion in reinforcement bars, poor concrete quality, and significant structural deterioration were identified as critical safety risks. Experts also noted visible puffing of tiles, bulging floors and damaged balconies, with many elements showing signs of advanced corrosion. The building is beyond repair and recommended demolition is the only feasible solution," the CBRI report says of Tower B.
Chintels has announced a one-time shifting allowance of Rs 40,000 for each flat owner in towers A, B and C. Edifice Engineering, the company that brought the twin towers down, has been engaged to demolish Paradiso and Chintels has revised its contract to include Tower B. The company, which has given a buyout option to residents who sought a refund, said owners of flats in Tower B would be entitled to the same, based on current market value of their flats and interior costs at rates determined in collaboration with the administration.
In Feb 2022, the administration had called IIT-Delhi to assess the structural safety of the towers. Subsequently, towers E and F were declared unsafe in March 2023, G in June 2023, H in July 2023, J in Jan 2024, C in Aug 2024 (done by CBRI), A in Oct 2024 (CBRI), and finally B (also CBRI). Towers D, E, F, G, H and J have been fully vacated. A total of 56 residents remains in flats in tower A, 54 in B, and around 30 in C.
So far, the district administration has officially declared towers D, E, F, G, H and J as unsafe and ordered demolition. The administration has assured residents demolition will be carried out in a phased manner to minimise disruption.
