Full Breakdown
Closure of Delhi’s Air Force Golf Course Amid Land-Reclamation Drive
By Drooid · · How we work
In this breakdown
01
The Sudden Shutdown
On October 28 the Air Force Sports Complex – the IAF’s nine-hole, par-35 golf course and adjoining facilities – was sealed “until further orders.” The closure cancelled the farewell round for outgoing Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal A P Singh, who retires on October 31. An official present confirmed eviction notices had been served and members were told the complex would close from 5 a.m. the next day, with no explanation of the land’s future use.
02
Historical Roots of the Complex
The parcel began as a British-era horse-racing track leased to the Delhi Race Club in 1926. An adjacent airfield, later Safdarjung, hosted the Delhi Flying Club and saw its first commercial flight in 1927. During World War II the Royal Air Force opened an Air Landing School on 22 Sept 1941, which moved in Oct 1942. After independence, the Indian Air Force formed Air Force Station New Delhi at the Race Course on 1 Sept 1947, dropping the “Royal” prefix in Jan 1950.
Visual evidence
Images from the story
03
Timeline of the Land-Reclamation Drive
- Nov 13 2017 – L&DO issued eviction notices to five properties on Lok Kalyan Marg, including the sports complex.
- June 13 2023 – The Centre took possession of the Jaipur Polo Ground (15.2 acres).
- Aug 27 2023 – The Centre took possession of the Delhi Race Club (53 acres).
- Mar 2024 – L&DO served fresh notices to the Race Club and the polo association.
- Oct 28 2024 – The Air Force golf course was shut.
04
Land Holdings and Figures
- Defence Estates Officer for Delhi: Air Force occupies 126.948 acres of MoUD land in the Race Course area.
- Of the 100 acres allotted to the Defence Ministry, 52.80 acres have been formally transferred.
- L&DO is reclaiming roughly 30 acres of the sports complex.
- Adjacent parcels reclaimed earlier include the 15.2-acre Jaipur Polo Ground, the 53-acre Delhi Race Club, and the 27.3-acre Delhi Gymkhana Club.
05
Official Statements & Responses
An unnamed official at the complex said the closure is part of the wider L&DO drive to reclaim land around Lok Kalyan Marg.
06
Criticism from Military Veterans
A three-star IAF veteran called the shutdown “extraordinarily breathtaking and arbitrarily harsh,” adding it was “offensive” and showed “disrespect” to the retiring chief. Other senior officers described the move as “arbitrarily harsh” and a “particularly graceless” end to a long-standing service institution.
07
Verbatim Quote
- “I find that HAL is just not in mission mode,” — P. Singh, of air chief
08
Why the Closure Matters
Sealing a facility that has served IAF personnel for decades disrupts a ceremonial tradition and signals a broader governmental push to bring high-value real estate near Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence back under state control. The reclaimed parcels, collectively exceeding 140 acres, could be repurposed for “public-purpose” projects, though officials have offered no concrete plan. The episode highlights tensions between the armed forces and civilian authorities over legacy defence properties.
09
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Government statements cite “public-interest projects” and “defence infrastructure” as reasons for reclamation, while veterans and commentators note possible uses such as additional MPs’ quarters or a new presidential palace. No official blueprint has been released, leaving the ultimate purpose of the reclaimed land uncertain.