Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Urges Smart, Green Transformation of Cantonments by 2035

Raksha Mantri sets 2035 goal for transforming India’s cantonments into smart, green and citizen-centric urban spaces aligned with the Viksit Bharat vision.

New Delhi, September 18, 2025 – Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has called on Indian Defence Estates Service (IDES) officers to shape the nation’s cantonment boards into smart, eco-friendly, and sustainable urban hubs, aligning with the government’s Viksit Bharat vision of a developed India. He set an aspirational target of 2035 for achieving this goal while addressing the national conference “MANTHAN 2025”, organised by the Directorate General of Defence Estates (DGDE). The two-day meet is focused on the theme “Strategic Roadmap to Viksit Bharat @2047.”

Commending IDES officers for managing more than 18 lakh acres of defence land and overseeing the welfare of residents across 61 cantonments, the Minister emphasized the need to modernize systems and make civic services transparent, efficient, and citizen-centric. He urged wider adoption of digital platforms and citizen participation to ensure residents can access services from home and actively shape future planning.

Highlighting next-generation solutions, Singh recommended expanding platforms such as e-Chhawani 2.0 with AI-driven grievance redressal, multilingual features, and smart healthcare. He also outlined plans for renewable power grids, EV charging points, smart waste-to-energy units, and AI-based surveillance, with particular focus on supporting the poor, elderly, differently-abled, and special-needs children.

Calling for financially self-reliant cantonments, the Minister assured full government backing and encouraged brainstorming to create a workable framework. He applauded DGDE’s initiatives like E-Connect, which boosts small business opportunities and showcases that development can coexist with environmental conservation.

Singh also urged officers to continuously upgrade their skills, describing their role as a key driver of nation-building, not merely a job.

The event was attended by Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, DGDE Shailendra Nath Gupta, and DGDE-designate Shobha Gupta, among other senior dignitaries. Sessions on defence land governance, digital innovation, and sustainable management will continue on Day-2, with contributions from senior government leaders and legal experts.