Defence Ministry Identifies Nearly 46,000 Acres Of ‘Surplus’ Defence Land, Opening Door To Urban Redevelopment
A stretch of defence land in an urban setting as authorities review vacant parcels identified as surplus while weighing future public use alongside long-term security and planning considerations. Image courtesy: AI generated picture via DALL-E
In a move with significant implications for urban planning, infrastructure expansion, and inter-ministerial coordination, India’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) has identified 45,906 acres of defence land across India as “surplus” to the requirements of the armed forces.
The land parcels, many of them located in high-value urban and semi-urban areas, have been offered to other central government departments to assess whether they can be put to alternative public use.
What did the MoD say about defence land?
In a written reply tabled in the Lok Sabha, the MoD stated that the identified land is vacant and not currently required for operational purposes.
“Around 45,906 acres of vacant defence land has been identified that is surplus to the requirements of the armed forces,” the ministry said, adding that details have been circulated among central ministries and departments to ascertain demand.
What is the opportunity scale MoD identified?
State-wise data highlights the scale of the opportunity. Delhi alone accounts for 817 acres of surplus defence land, a potentially significant figure given the capital’s acute land scarcity.
Uttarakhand tops the list with a substantial 8,693 acres, followed by Uttar Pradesh (8,840 acres) and Maharashtra (6,781 acres). Other states with notable surplus land include Rajasthan (2,091 acres), Himachal Pradesh (2,381 acres), Punjab (1,714 acres), Haryana (833 acres), and Jammu and Kashmir (877 acres).
Why is the Defence Land not redundant?
The MoD was careful to underline that land appearing unused is not necessarily redundant. Such areas may be earmarked for training, mobilisation exercises, infrastructure development under Key Location Plans (KLPs), or future accommodation for armed forces personnel.
India’s defence establishment controls nearly 18 lakh acres nationwide. Of this, around 11,152 acres are currently under encroachment, underlining long-standing challenges in land management.
The identification of surplus land is expected to trigger policy debates balancing national security needs with urban development and public infrastructure priorities.
