Rajnath Singh urges IDES to transform cantonments into smart, green urban ecosystems by 2035
New Delhi, September 19. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has urged Indian Defence Estates Service (IDES) officers to develop cantonment boards into smart, green, and sustainable urban ecosystems in line with the government’s vision of transforming India into a developed nation by 2047, with an interim target set for 2035.
Addressing MANTHAN 2025, a two-day national conference organised by the Directorate General of Defence Estates (DGDE) in New Delhi on September 18, Singh lauded the IDES for their dual role of managing over 18 lakh acres of defence land and ensuring the welfare of civilians in 61 cantonments across the country. He emphasised that cantonments must be developed like modern cities by upgrading systems and processes to make governance more efficient, transparent, and citizen-friendly.
“We must increase digital services so that people can avail transparent and timely services from home. We must increase citizen participation so that residents become partners in future planning of cantonments,” Singh said, calling for transforming cantonment boards into modern, accountable institutions with robust civic amenities and swift grievance redressal.
Highlighting the need to improve the “ease of living” for residents, the minister underlined the importance of advancing digital platforms such as e-Chhawani 2.0, equipped with AI-driven grievance redressal, multilingual services, and smart health facilities. He also called for prioritising the welfare of vulnerable groups, including the poor, disabled, senior citizens, and children with special needs. Future cantonments, he said, should feature renewable energy grids, EV charging hubs, waste-to-energy plants, smart power systems, and AI-based surveillance.
Rajnath Singh further endorsed financial independence for IDES and cantonment boards and urged officers to frame a roadmap for achieving this vision, assuring full government support.
He also appreciated DGDE’s efforts in boosting the “ease of doing business” through initiatives such as the E-Connect platform for small businesses and startups, while praising cantonments for balancing environmental sustainability with development.
“Today, when greenery is on the decline, cantonments show us that development and environment can go hand in hand,” he remarked.
Encouraging officers to continuously upgrade their skills in line with technological advancements, Singh reminded them that their work should be seen as a medium of nation-building.
“Every effort you make is making the nation stronger,” he told the gathering.
The inaugural session of the conference showcased DGDE’s initiatives in defence land governance and its strategic roadmap towards ‘Viksit Bharat @2047’. Senior officials including Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, DGDE Shailendra Nath Gupta, and DGDE-designate Shobha Gupta attended the event.
