In a major administrative transition, the formal process of transferring 756 acres of civil area from the Belagavi Cantonment Board to the Belagavi City Corporation (BCC) has officially commenced. Deputy Commissioner Mohammed Roshan confirmed on Tuesday that a comprehensive proposal has been submitted to the Karnataka state government.
Addressing media representatives, Roshan stated that the proposal to merge civilian zones of cantonments with urban local bodies has been under active consideration for several years. To facilitate the move, district authorities compiled a nearly 700-page dossier documenting residential houses, commercial establishments, bungalows, vacant land parcels, public markets, and road networks across the cantonment limits.
The report has been forwarded to the Urban Development Department for review, after which the proposal will be placed before the State Cabinet. Following cabinet approval, the final file will be sent to the Union Government for mandatory central clearance.
Roshan highlighted that the Cantonment Board currently faces liabilities of roughly ₹350 crore, creating a pressing need to shift civic maintenance and administrative responsibilities to the urban local body.
To ensure a smooth handover, authorities have instituted strict safeguards to prevent the encroachment or misuse of cantonment assets throughout the transition. Military installations will remain unaffected and continue operating as independent military stations once the civilian zones are integrated into the city corporation.
The handover will take effect upon final clearances from both state and central authorities.
