Air Chief Marshal AP Singh wrote to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on October 26, five days before his retirement on October 31, asking the government to leave the Indian Air Force in control of a prime land parcel in central Delhi. The land covers 40 acres at the Race Course Air Force Station and houses the Air Force Sports Complex, which was closed in October 2026 after the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs moved to reclaim it for unspecified reasons.
The letter argued that the site is far more than a sports facility. It said the station supports over 5,000 personnel with accommodation, training areas, a medical centre and a school, and carries counter-unmanned aerial system duties coordinated by the Delhi Integrated Air Defence Centre. The IAF has used the land since the 1940s, and the letter described it as critical to operations. The location adds weight to the argument, since the station sits near the Prime Minister’s residence, which makes air defence of the area a live concern.
The background
The letter came as part of a wider government drive to recover high-value land in Lutyens’ Delhi. The Land and Development Office has been reviewing parcels near Lok Kalyan Marg for several weeks, with a view to reclaiming plots used for defence golf and sports facilities. In August, the Delhi Race Club was evicted from its 53-acre premises, with the land said to be needed for an unspecified public purpose. The Jaipur Polo Ground and the Delhi Gymkhana Club have also been targeted in similar moves. The closure disrupted Singh’s last weeks in office. His traditional farewell golf event at the venue was cancelled. The episode has turned political. Congress called the move an absolute disgrace and said it showed utter disrespect to the IAF family. The government has not publicly explained what it plans for the land.
What it could mean for IAF operations
Closing a sports complex does not touch flying operations. However, the operational risk arises only if the government’s claim extends to land used by the station’s air defence, training or support functions, or if relocating those functions is forced. The letter’s reference to counter-drone duties suggests the IAF sees the parcel as part of the capital’s air defence set-up, and moving such a system takes time and creates gaps while it is rebuilt. Housing for over 5,000 personnel and the school and medical centre would also need replacements if the station shrank. The IAF’s new chief, who took over on November 1, has yet to comment on how he will handle the matter.