Hyderabad Gets Rs303 Crore Boost for Secunderabad Cantonment Infra Under Rajnath Singhs Approval
Hyderabad has received a significant push in local infrastructure development, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh approving ₹303.62 crore for the Secunderabad Cantonment area. The amount is tied to compensation for defence land transferred to the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) for public infrastructure works, including elevated corridors to ease traffic congestion.
Breaking away from tradition, the Defence Ministry has opted to divert this compensation away from the Consolidated Fund of India and instead deposit it into a dedicated escrow account linked directly to the Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB). This move ensures that the funds are used exclusively for on-ground development in the cantonment area, offering transparency, accountability, and direct access to much-needed resources.
The SCB has been instructed to prioritise four core areas: upgrading the ageing underground drainage system, improving drinking water supply, building retaining walls along key drainage routes, and developing internal roads that serve residential and military pockets. The land in question had been transferred by the Defence Ministry to HMDA to support Hyderabad’s broader infrastructure agenda. Under the new arrangement, the Telangana government will pay ₹303.62 crore in compensation for this land directly into the SCB-linked escrow account.
Local leaders, including Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy and Malkajgiri MP Eatala Rajender, welcomed the decision and called it a “watershed moment” for the cantonment. They stressed that this unprecedented method of direct fund allocation marks a shift in how defence land compensation can be utilised more effectively for community benefit. The move aligns with ongoing efforts to decentralise governance and empower local bodies for efficient execution of civic projects. Officials believe this will set a precedent for future land transfers involving defence assets across India.
With the funds now secured and earmarked, the Secunderabad Cantonment Board is expected to roll out these development projects in a phased manner over the coming months.
