Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
The Centre has set its sights on the land currently being used by the Air Force Golf Course on Lok Kalyan Marg, with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) seeking the return of the prime parcel, sources told India Today.
The development comes amid an ongoing drive by the Land and Development Office (L&DO), under MoHUA, to reclaim prime land parcels in and around Lok Kalyan Marg, close to the Prime Minister’s official residence.
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Sources said the concerned authorities have been informed about the government’s intent to take back the Air Force Golf Course land. However, no formal eviction notice has been issued by MoHUA so far, and there is no clarity yet on the timeline for the handover.
The golf course is part of Air Force Station Delhi, which includes official and residential facilities of the Indian Air Force in the Lok Kalyan Marg area. The adjoining Safdarjung Airport also hosts BSF helicopters and other aviation assets.
The government has not officially specified what the Air Force Golf Course land would be used for if it is taken back. Sources, however, indicated that the move is linked to the broader exercise to ensure more efficient utilisation of strategically located and high-value government land for public purposes.
The L&DO has already taken steps to reclaim several other properties in the vicinity.
In August, the Delhi Race Club was evicted from its 53-acre premises on Lok Kalyan Marg, with the government citing the requirement of the land for an unspecified public purpose.
The Indian Polo Association was also evicted from the Jaipur Polo Ground in the area. The government cited broader public purposes, including public governance and defence infrastructure requirements.
The L&DO has additionally initiated eviction proceedings against the 27-acre Delhi Gymkhana Club property, citing requirements linked to defence infrastructure, public security and governance-related projects. The matter is currently before the Delhi High Court.
The drive to reclaim these properties is not new. In 2017, the L&DO had issued eviction notices covering five properties, including the Air Force Sports Complex, Jaipur Polo Ground and Old Willingdon Camp. However, the process did not progress further at the time.
The latest move indicates that the government’s efforts to reclaim prime land around the Prime Minister’s residence are now potentially extending to land currently under use by the Air Force.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
