The merger of civilian areas of Secunderabad Cantonment with the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is facing further delays. Residents have expressed frustration, blaming the slow progress on a lack of coordination among officials. To speed up the process, some residents’ welfare associations have urged the state government and the Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) to form a six-member committee.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) had announced in 2023 that civilian areas would be removed from the limits of Secunderabad Cantonment and merged with GHMC. Since then, two meetings have taken place—one in July and another in December 2024. These meetings involved the Director General of Defence Estates, Military Authorities, and the State Chief Secretary of all 55 Cantonments across India. However, no further progress has been made, and a final report on the land transfer to GHMC is still pending.
Adding to the delay, the MoD recently extended the term of ward members in all 55 Cantonment Boards, including Secunderabad, through a gazette notification. This allows the board to function without elections for another year. The elected body’s term originally ended in 2021, but extensions have been granted every six months since then. This extension suggests that the merger process will take even longer.
Residents are growing increasingly concerned and confused about the situation. They believe forming a committee will help speed up the process. Many residents hope that after the merger, issues such as a lack of proper budget, manpower, infrastructure, and basic amenities will be addressed.
Sanki Ravinder Babu, General Secretary of Cantonment Vikas Manch, has been actively advocating for the merger. He stated that the process has been slow due to poor coordination between the SCB, Local Military Authorities, and the State Government. He emphasized that residents currently have to approach the board for every issue, making their lives difficult. He urged officials to provide a clear plan regarding the merger of civilian areas.
