Govt to move away from concept of cantonments

The government is looking to move away from the British-era concept of cantonment towns by demerging military stations and civil areas, and merging the latter with municipalities in their respective states. This will be a shift in administration for several cantonment towns, most of which were established pre-independence.

The defence ministry through a notification on April 27 shed the tag of cantonment for Yol in Himachal Pradesh. The military area within the cantonment has been converted into a military station while the civil area is being merged with the municipality. The next town in line for a similar exercise is Nasirabad in Ajmer. More will follow suit.

“Civilians of Cantts do not benefit from state government schemes since they are governed by Cantt Boards through the Defence Estates Department of the Ministry of Defence. Hence, there is a popular demand from civilians and also states for excision of Cantts,” sources said.


This is a first among a series of excision of cantts and is a move that has been welcomed by all. Cantts are deemed Municipalities and running Municipalities is a State subject.