IAF Hands Over 39.5 Acres of Delhi Sports Complex Land to Centre Near PM's Residence

The sports complex that comprised the golf course, swimming pool, badminton courts, and many more such facilities was shut down last week, right before the final transfer.

The Land and Development Office under the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs had sent an eviction notice to the complex's management, directing them to return the land.

According to a media report, the closure of the complex prevented former IAF chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh from holding his traditional golfing-out ceremony there before his retirement on October 31.

This transfer is part of a broader central government exercise to review and reclaim prime land around the Prime Minister's residence. This includes plots used for the Defense Department's golf course and sports facilities.

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs had previously directed the relevant entities to return the land belonging to the Air Force Golf Course.

In August, the L&DO evicted the historic Delhi Race Club located on Lok Kalyan Marg and took control of its 53 acres.

The government has also taken over the historic Jaipur Polo Ground, which was under the control of the Indian Polo Association. The reasons cited were administrative needs, public purposes, and defense infrastructure development.

With this transfer of the Air Force's 39.5-acre sports complex, hundreds of acres of land in the area adjacent to the Prime Minister's residence in Lutyens' Delhi now fall directly under the Central Land Management (Central Land Management) of the central government.