The Dehuroad Cantonment Board (DCB) in Pune utilised drone technology for a successful property tax reassessment, resulting in a fourfold revenue increase. Amit Mane, the defence estate officer, initiated the first-of-its-kind drone survey spanning nine villages and 11 slums. Recognizing the innovation, the Ministry of Defence awarded the DCB for its public service contributions. The collaboration with the College of Military Engineering’s dedicated team and the use of accurate drone images facilitated a smooth transition to the updated property assessments. Despite objections from 7,000 citizens, the cantonment authorities conducted 3,000 hearings, explaining the new assessment method to citizens and effectively addressing their concerns.
The Dehuroad Cantonment Board (DCB) efficiently evaluated its properties through drone technology, resulting in a four-fold rise in property tax revenue in 2023. According to Amit Mane, defence estate officer of Pune Circle, the annual revenue previously was Rs 1.8 crore, but has now surged to Rs 6.5 crore after the successful drone survey.
In recent decades, considerable transformations have occurred in the registered properties managed by the DCB. Previously, the cantonment was assessed and taxed based on outdated records. Amit Mane, during his tenure as the chief executive officer of the DCB, introduced a groundbreaking drone survey—the first of its kind in the country. Due to the favourable results, the Ministry of Defence awarded the DCB with the ‘Innovation in Public Service’ recognition.
DCB mentioned challenges in evaluating properties in the cantonment, given its spread across nine villages and 11 slums across 1000 acres. Citizens often resist survey attempts. To address this, they sought assistance from the College of Military Engineering (CME), which made a specialised team for this purpose. The CME team employed three drones for property surveys across various zones. The accurate images they provided were cross-referenced with DCB’s records. Utilising software tools, they identified expanded house areas on the properties. Subsequently, DCB adjusted its assessments based on these findings.
Officials reported receiving objections from 7,000 citizens regarding the updated property assessment method. According to the protocol, the cantonment authorities held 3,000 hearings, explaining the process to citizens with supporting documents. Amit Mane clarified that by following this approach, they encountered minimal resistance and effectively resolved objections.
The Dehuroad Cantonment Board's (DCB) pioneering drone survey showcases the successful integration of technology in governance and revenue generation.
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