Fri Apr 18 19:34:54 UTC 2025: ## Belagavi City to Expand as Cantonment Land Transfer Approved
**Belagavi, Karnataka, April 19, 2025** – The Belagavi City Corporation (BCC) has approved a resolution to take over civilian areas within the city’s military cantonment, encompassing residential colonies, markets, and open spaces. This decision follows a directive from the Karnataka state government to all cantonment cities. The transfer will significantly expand the area under BCC administration, impacting approximately 1763 acres currently managed by the cantonment board.
The resolution, passed by the Finance Standing Committee, marks a broader shift from an earlier BCC plan to acquire only residential areas. Committee chairperson Netravati Bhagwat, Mayor Mangesh Pawar, and Deputy Mayor Vani Joshi were present at the meeting. The initiative stems from a meeting with Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Roshan, who conveyed the state government’s decision to urban local bodies.
Meanwhile, the Belgaum Cantonment Residents’ Welfare Association (BCRWA) is urging the state government to build a new Deputy Commissioner’s office on a 102-acre abandoned military farm within the cantonment. The association argues this centrally located site is far superior to other proposed locations such as Suvarna Soudha, Kanabargi, or Hindalga, which are considered remote and inaccessible. The current DC office is deemed overcrowded and impractical during public protests.
The BCRWA highlights that the defence ministry is open to transferring the land under the “Equal Value Exchange Scheme,” enabling the creation of a modern government complex. Concerns are raised that delays could lead to private development of the land. The association has formally requested the state government to negotiate the land transfer with the Union Government.
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