The Indian Army has raised serious security concerns over a proposed ₹35 crore shopping mall near the Indian Military Academy, leading to the cancellation of the project’s approval by authorities.
Army Objects to Construction Near Defence Establishment
In official communications to local authorities, the Army questioned how the project received approval without obtaining a mandatory No Objection Certificate (NOC) from military authorities. It cited violations of Ministry of Defence guidelines governing construction near defence land.
As per norms:
- No construction is allowed within 100 metres of defence land
- Multi-storey buildings are restricted within 500 metres
The Army termed the proposed construction as being in contravention of established policy guidelines.
MDDA Cancels Approval
Following the objections, the Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority rejected the application submitted by the private developer.
Officials stated that the builder had been given time to obtain the required NOC from IMA authorities but failed to do so, resulting in the cancellation of the building plan.
Builder Defends Proposal
The developer, Shivam Builders and Developers, maintained that all procedures were followed and claimed that no response from Army authorities led them to assume there were no objections.
However, Army officials clarified that non-response does not imply consent, and concerns are formally communicated to governing authorities.
Security Risks Highlighted
Army sources indicated that the proposed mall could have posed serious security risks, especially considering the presence of cadets, including foreign trainees, at the academy.
Ensuring Safety of Defence Installations
The development underscores the importance of strict adherence to defence safety regulations and coordination with military authorities before approving infrastructure projects near sensitive installations.
