Indian Air Force Hands Over Prime Real Estate Complex in New Delhi to Ministry

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has handed over a 39.5-acre complex housing various facilities, located opposite Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 7 Lok Kalyan Marg residence, to the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry (MoHUA).

The land parcel includes an eight-decade-old golf course and a swimming pool. The complex was sealed on October 28, which resulted in the cancellation of a customary farewell golf round for outgoing Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh.

According to officials, the Land and Development Office (L&DO) under the ministry had previously issued notices to take back possession of the land situated near the Delhi Race Club, Jaipur Polo Grounds, and Lok Kalyan Marg. A joint team comprising the Defence Estates Office and the L&DO will conduct a survey to establish the boundaries of the land parcel. At present, the Ministry has not officially disclosed the specific reason for reclaiming the property.

Over the past few months, the Centre has accelerated efforts to reclaim prime real estate located within the capital's sensitive VVIP zone. Citing national security grounds and the requirements of governance infrastructure, the government previously initiated strict eviction and lease-termination proceedings against the Delhi Gymkhana Club, which is spread across 27 acres of land close to the Prime Minister’s residence. That matter is currently pending in court following petitions challenging the government's eviction notice.

In addition to the IAF complex and the Gymkhana Club proceedings, nearby settlements surrounding the Jaipur Polo Ground and the Delhi Race Club have been demolished over the recent weeks. The MoHUA had earlier instructed the concerned entities to hand over the land occupied by the Air Force Golf Course.

Furthermore, the department evicted the Delhi Race Club from its 53-acre premises on Lok Kalyan Marg in August, citing the land requirement for an unspecified public purpose. The Jaipur Polo Ground was similarly reclaimed from the India Polo Association for broader public purposes, governance, and defence infrastructure projects.

"The reclamation of large land parcels in central New Delhi highlights a significant shift in how central urban real estate is managed and utilized for governance and national security priorities. For businesses and urban planners, tracking these policy-driven land transitions is essential, as large-scale infrastructural shifts in key administrative zones often shape long-term commercial real estate trends, regulatory frameworks, and public-sector resource allocation in the capital." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes