The destruction of these two 100-meter-tall “twin towers” in Noida, where there is a forest of similar concrete structures, is a rare example of the authorities’ firmness against developers and corrupt officials.
The 32 floors of “Apex” and the 29 of “Ceyane”, which have a total of nearly a thousand apartments never inhabited during the nine years of legal disputes, collapsed in a few seconds in a huge cloud of dust.
The towers collapsed within seconds after the 3,700 kilograms of explosives were detonated in the largest demolition to date in India, local media reported.
Thousands of people, as well as stray dogs, had to be evacuated before the explosion.
Initial reports said there were no injuries or damage to nearby buildings.
The Indian media reported the smallest details of this demolition, in particular the number of holes drilled to place the explosive charges (9,642) and the volume of debris generated (80,000 tons).
Over the past two decades, India has experienced a construction boom that has been accompanied by corruption among elected officials, civil servants and powerful builders.
Property developers often circumvent building, planning and environmental regulations, usually with impunity.
The suburbs of big cities like Bombay, Delhi, Hyderabad and Bangalore have become traps for middle-class buyers investing in projects that are never completed or face legal disputes.
In Delhi, in the suburbs of Noida and Greater Noida – where the towers were demolished on Sunday – it is estimated that more than 100 residential towers have been abandoned by builders, making these areas look like ghost towns .
