The Pune Cantonment Board has sought ₹105 crore from the Ministry of Defence in service charges, warning that delayed central funding is putting civic services, infrastructure maintenance and employee salary payments under pressure across the cantonment limits.
PCB chief executive officer Vidyadhar Pawar told the Times of India that the board had sent its proposal to the ministry. The amount is being sought as compensation for providing civic services to military areas, particularly in Ghorpadi and Wanowrie. The board received ₹24 crore under the same head last year but has not received an instalment for the current year.
Service charges are a major revenue source for the cantonment board. Officials describe the payments as comparable to property tax collected by municipal bodies for providing civic amenities. The funds are used to support services in areas under the board’s jurisdiction, including locations occupied by the armed forces.
A senior board official said the release of the money was important to restore essential services and prevent further deterioration of civic infrastructure. The official said the board would be able to improve basic services for both civilian and military areas if the amount was received.
The financial strain has already affected routine operations. According to board officials, the PCB has been struggling to maintain regular garbage collection, roads and gardens, carry out minor road infrastructure work and replace ageing drainage lines. These functions cover a mixed urban area in which the cantonment administration is responsible for civic services despite depending substantially on central assistance.
The board’s monthly expenditure is around ₹10 crore, including salaries and pensions for its employees. Officials said a continued delay in funding could disrupt salary payments within the next two months. The board has faced a similar situation in the recent past, when financial pressure affected its ability to meet employee payments.
The PCB has largely depended on grants-in-aid from the Ministry of Defence, which are released in instalments during the year. Officials said these grants provide temporary relief but do not create a predictable revenue stream for recurring expenditure and infrastructure requirements. The current request therefore concerns both immediate cash flow and the board’s ability to keep essential municipal operations running.
Officials also pointed to pending proposals to convert the land status of some properties. These proposals are awaiting approval from the Directorate General Defence Estates. According to the officials, approval could help the board generate a steadier source of revenue in the future.
For residents and institutions within the cantonment limits, the funding delay has a direct operational impact because waste collection, road upkeep, drainage maintenance and public-space management depend on the board’s financial capacity. The immediate next step is the Ministry of Defence’s consideration of the PCB’s ₹105-crore proposal, while the pending land-status decisions remain a longer-term revenue issue.
