IAF transfers 39.5-acre Delhi land parcel to housing ministry

The Defence Estates Office completed the handover of the land parcel located on Lok Kalyan Marg on Friday, according to officials familiar with the development. The property houses a sports complex, swimming pool, and associated recreational amenities that were previously operated by the air force.

The Land and Development Office (L&DO), functioning under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, had issued notices demanding the facility vacate the premises days before the formal transfer. A joint survey team comprising representatives from the Defence Estates Office and L&DO will now demarcate the exact boundaries of the transferred land. The government has not disclosed the intended use for the reclaimed property.

The Lok Kalyan Marg site sits in close proximity to the Delhi Race Club and Jaipur Polo Grounds, where the L&DO has similarly initiated steps to reclaim government land. The ministry's coordinated efforts to recover multiple prime properties in the vicinity reflect an acceleration in the Centre's land consolidation strategy in the high-value Delhi location.

Community members and slum residents inhabiting settlements adjacent to the Jaipur Polo Grounds and Delhi Race Club have expressed concerns regarding the land reclamation efforts across the area, though no formal complaints have been registered with authorities.