Prime Land Reclamation Drives Underway in Capital

New Delhi: In a sudden administrative development, the Air Force Golf Course on Lok Kalyan Marg has been shut down until further orders, forcing the abrupt cancellation of a planned farewell event for outgoing Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal A P Singh.

The facility, which houses a sports complex, a swimming pool, and dedicated amenities for service personnel, was locked down following notices issued by the Land and Development Office (L&DO) under the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). According to officials stationed at the premises, the complex will remain closed indefinitely as the central government intensifies its efforts to reclaim prime land parcels across the capital's central zones.

Impact on Defense Personnel and Amenities

The sudden closure has directly impacted routine operations and welfare facilities. Sources confirmed that amenities utilized by airmen and Agniveer (Vayu) personnel within the complex are currently inaccessible. The high-profile retirement farewell for Air Chief Marshal Singh, originally scheduled to take place at the sports complex, had to be swiftly relocated and reorganized due to the closure.

This action is part of a broader, expedited push by the Centre to reassess and take back control of extensive land holdings in the immediate vicinity of Lok Kalyan Marg, the capital's high-security administrative corridor.

Wider Crackdown on Recreational Clubs

The closure of the Air Force facility follows a series of recent government interventions targeting sprawling sports and recreational properties in central Delhi. Over the past several weeks, the L&DO has initiated reclamation procedures across several neighboring landmarks, including the Delhi Race Club and the Jaipur Polo Grounds.

In August, the authorities evicted the Delhi Race Club from its 53-acre premises on Lok Kalyan Marg, citing urgent public purposes and strategic infrastructure requirements. Similarly, the Jaipur Polo Ground was reclaimed from the India Polo Association under broader governance and national infrastructure mandates.

Parallel eviction proceedings have also been initiated against the Delhi Gymkhana Club to repossess its 27-acre property for defense-related infrastructure expansion, though that specific matter remains contested in court. Meanwhile, local authorities have initiated clearance operations in nearby slum clusters surrounding the polo grounds, signaling a comprehensive infrastructural overhaul of the entire zone.