CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR: A total of 1,360 homes of civilians located within the cantonment area here are likely to come under the jurisdiction of the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Municipal Corporation (CSMC).
The possible change in the governing authority of these dwellings is taking place in the wake of the proposed merger of the civil areas of Cantonment into the local civic body.
While a total of 121.79 acres of the civilian area from the local Cantonment is considered for the merger into the CSMC, affected residents have reacted cautiously to the move, with a section of them welcoming the development.
Virendra Gaikwad, a resident of the Cantonment area, said the civilians from the Cantonment area have houses, which are offered on a long lease.
“Such ownership of properties poses difficulties in availing bank loan or mortgaging homes for loan purposes. We hope to overcome these challenges once the civilian area becomes a part of the municipal corporation,” he said.
Anand Yadav, another resident of the Cantonment area, said coming under the purview of the municipal corporation would be beneficial in many ways. “With the merger, we hope to avail the FSI on par with municipal limits. The limited FSI benefit has halted the vertical growth of the Cantonment,” he said.
A section of residents were found unaware of the proposed merger of the Cantonment into the CSMC.
The local Cantonment is spread over an area of 2590.80 acres, of which the civilian area of 121.79 acres is considered for inclusion in the municipal corporation. With the possible merger of the cantonment, the jurisdiction of the CSMC is expected to rise from the existing spread over 175.65 square kilometres.
Notably, the general body of the CSMS has given the go-ahead for the proposed merger with an appeal to the government to provide sufficient funds for the development of the areas to be merged.
