The government is planning a significant change by transitioning almost all British-era cantonment towns to be governed by municipalities in their respective states.
This move aims to eliminate the colonial practice of military governance over civilian areas surrounding important stations.
A comprehensive list of 58 cantonments slated for the transition has been shared with the respective states.
Notable cantonments such as Delhi, Pune, Ambala, and Ahmedabad, as well as hill stations like Kasauli and Landsdowne, are included in the list. However, for security reasons, only two cantonments – Jammu and Srinagar – have been excluded from the current plan.
While discussions have been initiated, there is currently no set timeline for the implementation process.
Minister of State for Defence, Ajay Bhatt, clarified that the transfer of civil areas and their merger with state municipalities necessitates active consultation and approval from the concerned state governments.
As a result, providing a specific timeframe for its execution is currently not feasible, as it depends on the cooperation and agreement of the respective states.
