The Indian Army’s field firing range in Ayodhya has been de-notified to facilitate the construction of a new airport. The decision is part of broader defense reforms aimed at optimising military land use while supporting civilian infrastructure development.
The Army has been assured that an alternative land parcel will be provided to establish a new firing range, which is crucial for the training of soldiers, especially those from the Dogra regimental centre based in Ayodhya.
The ongoing process to transfer defense land follows the standard procedure of offering land of equivalent value or developing infrastructure on a suitable alternate site.
Discussions between the Army and the Uttar Pradesh government are currently underway to finalise this new location. Additionally, the Army is considering options in a Northeastern state for establishing a larger firing range.
The development is part of a broader initiative by the Indian Army to modify 10 cantonments across the country, a move initiated in March. The aim is to harmonise 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. It has been clarified by sources that these changes will not impact the military establishments within these regions.
The restructuring, along with the recent de-notification of Yol cantonment in Himachal Pradesh, signifies a shift in the strategic approach to managing military lands, balancing the need for military preparedness with the growing demands for civilian infrastructure.