Rajnath Singh approves Rs 303 crore for Secunderabad Cantonment infra revamp

Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has cleared 303.62 crore for infrastructure works in Secunderabad Cantonment, acceding to Union Minister G Kishan Reddy’s persistent appeals, The Deccan Chronicle reported.

The funds, tied to the transfer of cantonment land to Hyderabad’s urban development authority (HMDA) for elevated corridors, will bypass standard treasury protocols through an innovative escrow mechanism.

As reported by The Deccan Chronicle, Reddy had twice written to Singh proposing this financial route. In a significant departure from normal practice, compensation for the land transfer will not enter the Consolidated Fund of India. Instead, the amount will be held in a dedicated Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) account, ring-fenced exclusively for local projects.

The Defence Ministry has instructed SCB to prioritise four key areas once Telangana deposits the compensation: upgrading underground drainage systems, improving drinking water networks, constructing retaining walls along drainage channels and developing internal roads.

Reddy publicly thanked Singh for approving what he termed a “watershed moment” for cantonment residents. The arrangement ensures funds remain untouchable for other purposes, a transparency measure welcomed by local stakeholders.