The transfer of the very valuable and strategically important land of the Indian Air Force (IAF), located right near the Prime Minister's residence on Lok Kalyan Marg in Lutyens Zone of New Delhi, has been completed. The Air Force has officially handed over the land of its nearly eight-decade-old 39.5-acre sports complex and golf course located at the race course to the Land and Development Office (L&DO) under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. This huge complex of about 40 acres had many modern sports and entertainment facilities like a 9-hole premium golf course, international standard swimming pool, badminton court and restaurant, which were used by the defense personnel. This important step has been taken as part of the big campaign being run by the Central Government for the revival and central management of government lands. 39.5 acre sports complex under the control of the Centre, joint survey will begin. The government has completed the acquisition of this entire 39.5 acre land on 'as is where is' (as is where is) basis. Immediately after this formal transfer, a joint team of Defense Estates Office, Indian Air Force and L&DO is going to conduct a physical survey of the boundaries and actual area of this land. The main objective of this survey is to match the official land records and the actual area on the surface and eliminate any kind of boundary dispute or difference in measurement. Since this plot is directly adjacent to the official residence of the Prime Minister of the country, it is considered very strategic from the security and administrative point of view to go to the direct control center of this land. 8 decade old tradition put to a halt, Air Force Chief's 'Farewell Golf' cancelled. The sudden closure of this sports complex and it coming under government control has also had a major impact on the decades old traditions of the Air Force. Former Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, who retired on October 31, 2026, could not organize the traditional 'Golfing-out' ceremony organized before his farewell at this golf course. Usually the Indian Air Force Chief is the 'Patron-in-Chief' of this sports complex and takes his official farewell by playing golf before retirement. However, this historic farewell match could not be held due to L&DO taking possession of the premises and entry being closed. Massive campaign to return valuable government lands in Lutyens' Delhi This Indian Air Force land is not an isolated case, rather the Central Government is taking over hundreds of acres of prime land located around Lok Kalyan Marg in Lutyens' Delhi. Earlier in the month of August, L&DO had also taken control of about 53 acres of land near Delhi Race Club and the historic 'Jaipur Polo Ground' used by the Indian Polo Association. The government has taken back these precious assets citing public use, administrative requirements and expansion of defense infrastructure. However, for what specific public interest or administrative scheme this reclaimed land of 39.5 acres of Air Force will be used in future, it will be formally disclosed by the Central Government after the completion of the survey.
