Air Force sports complex near PM's home shut as govt seeks to reclaim prime land

The Indian Air Force (IAF) Sports Complex on Lok Kalyan Marg, near the Prime Minister's official residence in New Delhi, was closed to members on Wednesday until further orders as the Centre stepped up efforts to reclaim prime land parcels in the area.The closure of the Air Force-run facility, which houses a golf course, swimming pool and restaurants, comes weeks after India Today TV reported that the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) was seeking the return of land allotted to the IAF in the area.Sources said the closure has also led to the cancellation of a farewell golfing event planned for outgoing Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, who is due to retire on October 31.Several members received messages from the authorities on Tuesday informing them of the decision. The communication stated that the complex would remain closed from 5 am on October 28 until further orders. An official present at the premises on Lok Kalyan Marg said notices had been served and that the complex would remain shut until further notice. Some workers in the area told media that the ground had been closed for the past few days.The facility is located within Race Course Air Force Station and is frequented by serving and retired officials. A farewell golfing event, commonly referred to as a "golfing-out", is generally organised for outgoing Air Chiefs in their capacity as patron-in-chief of the golf course. Though the closure marks a fresh development in the Centre's efforts to reclaim high-value government land, it does not establish whether a formal process to hand over the sports complex’s land has been initiated.The government has not publicly disclosed the specific future use proposed for the land occupied by the Air Force Sports Complex.The sports complex is among several prominent properties that have come under the government's land reclamation drive.In August, the Land and Development Office (L&DO), under the MoHUA, evicted the Delhi Race Club from its 53-acre premises on Lok Kalyan Marg, citing the requirement of the land for an unspecified public purpose.The department also reclaimed the Jaipur Polo Ground from the Indian Polo Association, citing broader public purposes, governance and defence infrastructure projects.The Air Force Golf Course is located near the Delhi Race Club and Jaipur Polo Grounds, where the government has already taken steps to recover land.Workers and residents of the jhuggi clusters surrounding the Jaipur Polo Grounds and the Delhi Race Club said the areas had also witnessed demolitions over the past two weeks.The Centre has also initiated eviction proceedings against the Delhi Gymkhana Club to reclaim its 27-acre premises, citing the need to strengthen and secure defence infrastructure.On May 22, the government issued a notice directing the club to hand over its premises and invoked a public-purpose clause in the original lease deed, stating that the land was required for defence infrastructure.The club has challenged the termination of its perpetual lease deed in the Delhi High Court and the matter is pending before the court.- Ends