Cantt

Cantt, short for cantonment, is a term used in South Asia to describe a planned, typically military-administered residential and civic area located near or within a city. The concept originated during British colonial rule, when military stations were developed as semi-autonomous towns with their own governance structures. Today, cantonments in countries such as Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh are usually administered by Cantonment Boards or equivalent authorities that operate alongside or apart from the city’s municipal government.

Cantt areas are characterized by their orderly layout, tree-lined streets, and a mix of residential blocks for military personnel and civilian staff, along with schools, clinics, markets, clubs, and parks. They may also host or border military facilities such as depots, repair yards, airfields, or rail facilities. Access and security arrangements are typically tighter than in surrounding urban areas, reflecting their historical purpose and ongoing military connections.

The governance and services in cantt towns vary by country, but the common thread is an administration designed to meet the needs of military personnel and related civilian communities while maintaining a degree of separation from civilian municipal authorities. This often includes separate police or security arrangements and distinct zoning rules.

Notable cantt locations include Lahore Cantt, Rawalpindi Cantt, Karachi Cantt, and Peshawar Cantt in Pakistan; Secunderabad Cantonment and Pune Cantonment in India; and cantonment areas in Dhaka and Chittagong in Bangladesh. In everyday usage, the name of a cantonment area is frequently shortened to include the word Cantt in postal addresses and local references.