Air Force Sports Complex Shut: Why was it closed? Does eviction or demolition follow? What we know so far

The Air Force Sports Complex (AFSC), near Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence on Lok Kalyan Marg, has reportedly been closed until further notice.

An official statement confirming the closure was issued Wednesday, The Tribune reported. The store said it confirmed the closure during a visit to the air station.

The report said maintenance workers, domestic workers and contract workers at the sports complex were verbally instructed not to report for duty earlier this week.

According to the Hindustan Times, several members also confirmed that they had received messages from the authorities on Tuesday informing them of the closure of the sports complex.

“Good afternoon! The complex will remain closed on October 28 from 5:00 AM until further orders,” the message read, as reported by HT.

The Mint could not independently confirm the report.

The Centre’s latest move may have led to the cancellation of the farewell event, known as ‘golfing-out’, for outgoing Indian Air Force (IAF) Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, who is due to retire on October 31, another Air Force Station official said.

Why was the air force sports complex closed? “It was government land”

The development comes at a time when the center has decided to acquire land for the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), The Tribune reported.

Meanwhile, people familiar with the matter told HT that the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs had recently conveyed that it needed the land allotted to the IAF to run the sports complex.

“It was government land, so there was no need for a court order. The government has officially taken over the golf course,” said a person familiar with the details.

Manash Dawadi, an Air Force official posted at the air station gate, told the newspaper that an eviction notice for the property was issued in 2017. He reportedly claimed that eviction discussions had also taken place earlier this week.

Members were reportedly told the complex would remain closed “until further notice.”

“Employees have been asked not to come to the premises from Monday. For this reason, we are not allowing anyone to enter the sports grounds or the golf club as directed,” Dawadi said.

What the government official said

A MoHUA official also confirmed that the current eviction was based on a notice served in 2017.

“Later this year, a communication was made regarding a previously served eviction notice in 2017, the information of which is publicly available,” the official was quoted as saying by The Tribune.

However, the official did not comment on whether demolition is planned.

L&DO issues eviction notice: Why does government want land back?

The development comes in the backdrop of a series of eviction orders issued by the Center to prominent institutions in Lutyens’ Delhi, including the Delhi Gymkhana Club, Delhi Race Club, Jaipur Polo Ground and part of the Sujan Singh Park complex this year, citing the land requirement for public purposes.

The Lands and Development Office (L&DO) had reportedly informed the Air Force of its decision regarding the Air Force Sports Complex earlier this year. However, the purpose for which the government intends to reclaim the land remains unclear.

In 2017, L&DO issued eviction notices for five properties, including the Air Force Sports Complex, Jaipur Polo Ground and Old Willingdon Camp. No further action was taken at that time.

In August, the L&DO evicted the Delhi Race Club from its 53-acre premises, citing a request for land for an unspecified “public purpose”.

The center also reclaimed the Jaipur Polo Ground from the Polo Association of India citing wider public purposes, administration and defense infrastructure projects.

The ministry also initiated eviction proceedings against the Delhi Gymkhana Club to get back its 27 acres of prime land, citing the need for defense infrastructure, public safety and governance-related projects in the public interest. The matter is pending before the Delhi High Court.

The issue came to light after The Tribune first reported the restrictions on the mosque’s operations. The Center later verbally assured the Delhi High Court that no demolition would take place till October 29.

The air force sports complex houses a golf course and a swimming pool

The Ministry of Urban Development has conducted a ‘survey’ of the Air Force Sports Complex (AFSC) located at Air Force Base New Delhi (AFND).

The complex has a nine-hole golf course, a swimming pool used for training, basketball and tennis courts and a gym. In the two buildings in the complex, each restaurant has a bar.

Air Force Station New Delhi completed 75 years in September 2022. It was established on 1 September 1947.

Will the air force sports complex be demolished?

According to the Tribune, an Air Force Station official dismissed speculation about demolition activity at the Air Force Sports Complex.

The official said that no earth-moving machines, including JCBs, had entered the premises recently. This claim was confirmed by the site’s contract workers.

Some officials present at the site suggested that any JCBs seen in the vicinity may have been associated with the nearby Jaipur Polo Ground rather than the Air Force Golf Course.

Jaipur Polo Country Eviction

A notice board at the entrance gates of the Jaipur Polo Ground identifies the premises as belonging to the Lands and Development Authority (L&DO).

This is also the entrance to the mosque on the Race Course grounds, which The Tribune reported earlier.

Security personnel, including Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel, were present at the gates. The guard stated that no heavy equipment was moving on the property.