New ‘scales of accommodation’ for defence personnel approved

NEW DELHI: Armed forces personnel can look forward to contemporary and sustainable living and work spaces with green building standards, including energy efficiency, water conservation and handling waste, improved structural design, maintenance and fire safety, smart metering and multi-level parking; with defence minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday approving the much-needed revised “scales of accommodation 2022” for the defence services.

“This will ensure contemporary specifications in future projects and better standards of living for the personnel of the armed forces. The revision of scales of accommodation (SOA) will enhance infrastructure development, enable usage of modern technology, give more flexibility and cater for users’ aspirations,” the defence ministry said.

The previous SOA was approved by the government in October 2009. SOA defines the authorisation for construction facilities for operational, functional, training, administrative, living and recreation facilities for the defence services.

The major changes in SOA will for the first time include car garages for junior commissioned officers (75%) and other ranks (50%). So far, only officers were authorised car garages, while JCOS and ORS were entitled only to scooter garages, officials said. Another change is 10% increase in plinth area of single accommodation for officers, JCOS and ORS, they added.

There was an urgent need for revision of SOA with the induction of new units, technological facilities and equipment profile, requirements of operational readiness, increased threat perception, concept of sustainable development including contemporary industry standards and enhanced aspirations of users for improved living standards, defence ministry officials said.