On October 26, days before his October 31 retirement, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh urged defence minister Rajnath Singh to protect the Indian Air Force (IAF)’s control of prime land within the Race Course Air Force Station, near the Prime Minister’s residence, citing operational imperatives and the facilities located there, said a senior official familiar with the matter, requesting anonymity.
The letter came against the backdrop of the ministry of housing and urban affairs (MoHUA) reclaiming a sprawling sports complex within the station. The reclamation has been controversial in defence circles, and even forced the cancellation of a farewell for the outgoing air chief. The defence ministry spokesperson did not respond to calls for comment.
MoHUA hasn’t spelt out a reason for the reclamation, but the move is in keeping with its efforts to take back large parcels of land in the vicinity of the Prime Minister’s residence such as the Gymkhana Club and the Jaipur Polo Ground. The Land and Development Office (L&DO), which comes under MoHUA, has completed a survey of the sports complex, which is no longer is use. The Air Force Sports Complex (AFSC), located within the Race Course Air Force Station established in the 1940s, was closed to members last month until further notice amid the government’s move to reclaim land allotted to the IAF, as first reported by HT on October 28.
In his letter regarding the transfer and regularisation of MoHUA land at the Race Course Air Force Station (or Air Force Station, New Delhi), AP Singh wrote that it is prudent for the land housing the AFSC to remain under IAF’s control, a second official tracking the matter said, asking not to be named. IAF has also informed the defence ministry that the Race Course station is entrusted with countering unmanned aerial system (UAS) threats during various activities coordinated by the Delhi Integrated Air Defence Centre (DIADC), said a third official, requesting anonymity. AP Singh urged the defence minister to direct the authorities to hand over the land to the IAF, saying the matter should be reconsidered, the officials said.
