The firing range was crucial for the training of soldiers, especially those from the Dogra Regimental Centre based in Ayodhya.
New Delhi: The Indian Army has reportedly decided to change its plans for a field firing range in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, due to the construction of the new Maharishi Valmiki International Airport in the area. The firing range, which was crucial for the training of soldiers, especially those from the Dogra Regimental Centre based in Ayodhya, has been rendered unviable and unsafe as it falls within the flight path of the new airport.
The decision to denotify the firing range was made to ensure the safety of both military personnel and civilian aircraft operations. The UP government and the Army are currently in discussions to finalize an alternative location for the firing range. The Army has been assured that an alternative land parcel will be provided to establish a new firing range. This process follows the standard procedure of offering land of equivalent value or developing infrastructure on a suitable alternate site.
However, despite this, the Army is also considering options in a northeastern state for establishing a larger firing range. This move is part of broader defence reforms aimed at optimizing military land use while supporting civilian infrastructure development.
The denotification of the Ayodhya firing range is part of a larger government move to modify 10 cantonments across the country. The government said this initiative aims to harmonize municipal laws governing civil areas within cantonments with those of adjoining state municipal areas. The cantonments under modification include Ajmer, Babina, Deolali, Clement, Dehradun, Fatehgarh, Mathura, Nasirabad, Shahjahanpur, and Rampur.
However, the denotification of the Ayodhya range has not been without controversy. The land, particularly the village of Majha Jamthara, was previously marked as a buffer zone for Army training but was reclassified earlier this year.
Apart from the Ayodhya land, the Narendra Modi government’s overall decision to denotify cantonment land for civilian use has drawn criticism, with some questioning the motives behind the land reclassification and its subsequent opening for commercial development. Among them, Commander KP Sanjeev Kumar (retired), said [archived link] the “only remaining green lungs in some of the towns is set to go”, while insinuating that “land sharks and real estate mafia” stand to benefit from this.
The only remaining green lungs & semblance of order in some of the towns is set to go, dubbed "archaic colonial legacy". Over to land sharks & real estate mafia now. SHAME.
— Kaypius (@realkaypius) September 2, 2024
Ten army cantonments to be handed over to civil authorities https://t.co/MaGgc4g0Dm via @deccanherald
Earlier too, the move evoked mixed reactions from senior veterans, as India Sentinels had reported in May 2023.
The restructuring, along with the recent denotification of the Yol cantonment in Himachal Pradesh, signifies a shift in the strategic approach to managing military lands. This shift balances the need for military preparedness with the growing demands for civilian infrastructure. The Ayodhya Development Authority (ADA) has also stated that it would allow mapping in the area, publicly opening it up for construction and commercial use.
