Lok Sabha Question No. 4631 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-20
Subject: Defence Land in Ghaziabad District
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Shri Atul Garg

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4631 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20 TH  MARCH, 2026

## DEFENCE LAND IN GHAZIABAD DISTRICT

## 4631. SHRI ATUL GARG:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has details of the defence land scattered in Ghaziabad district outside the designated cantonment areas;
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  status  of  the  mutation  of  defence  land  records  and measures taken for the prevention of encroachments thereon;
- (c) the measures taken by the Government to resolve disputes related to the closure of roads passing through defence areas affecting civilian traffic;
- (d) whether the Government has details of public utility projects such as roads and drains held up due to the requirement of transfer defence land in the city and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the details of the policy of the Government on the excising of civil areas from the cantonments in the State?

## A N S W E R

MINISTER OF STATE

(SHRI SANJAY SETH)

IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

## (a) & (b) The details of Defence land in Ghaziabad District alongwith its mutation status are as under:

| Sr.No.   | Name of Station                      | Total Defence land (in acres)   | Defence land yet to be mutated (in acres)   |
|----------|--------------------------------------|---------------------------------|---------------------------------------------|
| 1        | Air Force Station, Hindan, Ghaziabad | 2,534.07                        | 71.72                                       |
| 2        | Bhonja Camping Ground                | 30.97                           | 24.80                                       |
| 3        | Rifle Range Ghaziabad                | 161.51                          | 60.87                                       |
| 4        | Ordnance Factory Depot Muradnagar    | 90.53                           | Nil                                         |
| Total    | Total                                | 2,817.08                        | 157.39                                      |

Steps taken to prevent encroachment on defence land are as under:-

(i) Regular inspection of Defence Lands is carried out by the concerned offices and they are required to submit annual certificates as per rules.

(ii)  As  and  when  encroachments  are  detected,  they  are  removed  by  carrying  out  anti encroachment drives after following due process of law in close coordination with police authorities and district administration.

(iii) Defence land records have been digitized.

(iv)  A  Land  Management  System  has  been  put  in  place  wherein  GIS  layers  of encroachments have been developed.

(v) Defence Land Audit has been institutionalized from 2011-12 as a continuing process.

(vi) A methodology for evaluating 'Threat' of encroachment on defence land has been devised. Based on threat value, steps to be taken by the concerned officers have been communicated to the field offices.

(vii) An encroachment module has been enabled in February, 2020 on DGDE website for reporting encroachments on defence land by the general public.

(viii) Government has allocated funds for construction of boundary wall/ fences/ pillars around the certain vulnerable defence land pockets.

(c) Closure of roads in Cantonment areas is governed by the provisions of Section 258 of the Cantonments Act, 2006. The Act empowers the Cantonment Board to open streets for public use and regulate their closure. Permanent closure of a street requires prior approval of the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) or the Principal Director and can be undertaken only for  security  reasons  after  issuing  a  public  notice  inviting  objections  and  suggestions  from  the general public. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) may temporarily close a street or part thereof for repairs or for carrying out works relating to drainage, water supply, lighting or other works permitted  under  the  Act,  while  ensuring  necessary  safety  measures  and  access  to  adjoining properties.

Further, the Ministry of Defence has issued a detailed mechanism on 04.09.2018 regarding the  procedure  to  be  followed  for  closure  of  roads,  with  direction  that  no  public  road  in  the Cantonments shall be closed by the Local Military Authority without following the said procedure. (d) No public utility projects such as roads and drains are held up due to the requirement of transfer of defence land in Ghaziabad.

(e) The broad modalities for excision of Cantonments located in the State of U.P and their merger with  adjoining  State  Municipalities  have  been  shared  with  the  State  Government  for  their comments.  Since the excision of civil areas of Cantonments is linked to demarcation of boundaries of Military Stations, further details cannot be disclosed being prejudicial to national security.

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