The Indian Air Force has handed over 39.5 acres of land housing its sports complex opposite Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 7 Lok Kalyan Marg residence to the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry, an official said on Friday, November 6. The formal handover took place on Wednesday and was confirmed by an official on Thursday.

Source: The Hindu BusinessLine

The parcel, at Race Course Air Force Station, housed an eight-decade-old golf course, a swimming pool, badminton courts and other amenities. It was transferred on an 'as is where is' basis to the Land and Development Office (L&DO), which works under the housing ministry. The L&DO had initially sought about 39.9 acres, of which 39.5 acres have now been handed over, India Sentinels reported.

Source: India Sentinels

39.5 acresIAF sports complex land handed over
39.9 acresLand the L&DO had initially sought
53 acresDelhi Race Club premises taken over in August

A takeover the Air Force opposed

The complex was sealed on October 28, abruptly ending the chance to host the customary farewell golf round for the outgoing Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh. Singh had objected in writing to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, citing a 2014 joint survey of the land and the station's role in countering aerial threats near the capital's most sensitive residence, and the Air Force had asked the defence ministry to seek cancellation of the sealing. The government went ahead with the takeover regardless.

A joint team of the Defence Estates Office and the L&DO — with the Air Force, according to India Sentinels — will now survey the land to determine its boundaries. The ministry has still not officially declared the reason for reclaiming the parcel, or how the land will be used.

Part of a wider prime-land drive

The handover is the latest step in the Centre's drive over the past few months to reclaim prime real estate in the capital's VVIP zone. In August, the L&DO evicted the Delhi Race Club from its 53-acre premises on Lok Kalyan Marg, citing an unspecified public purpose, and reclaimed the Jaipur Polo Ground from the India Polo Association. Eviction proceedings against the Delhi Gymkhana Club, spread across 27 acres near the Prime Minister's residence, are pending in court, and jhuggis around the polo ground and race club have been demolished in recent weeks.

This completes the development Awaaz Punjab reported on November 3, when the Centre first moved to reclaim the complex and the Congress attacked the bid. Read that earlier report: Centre Moves to Reclaim IAF Sports Complex Land Near PM's Residence