Air Force Sports Complex shut as Centre moves to reclaim prime land in Delhi

Air Force Complex Ground, Palam in New Delhi. File | Photo Credit: Kamesh Srinivasan

The Air Force Sports Complex in New Delhi has been closed until further notice, resulting in the cancellation of the customary farewell golfing ceremony for outgoing Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh.

While some veterans have raised concerns over the closure of a long-standing Air Force facility, others have backed the government’s move to reclaim prime land in the national capital.

The facility was closed on Wednesday (October 28).

The closure comes days after the Land and Development Office (L&DO), under the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), issued notices to the facility to hand over the land located on Lok Kalyan Marg. The Centre has expedited the process to reclaim prime land parcels in the surrounding area.

The farewell, popularly known as the ‘golfing-out’ ceremony, is organised for every outgoing Air Chief in his capacity as the patron-in-chief of the Indian Air Force’s golf course. The course is situated in the 30-plus-acre Air Force Sports Complex, which also has a clubhouse, a bar, multi-cuisine dining facilities, a swimming pool, and a gymnasium.

The facility also has a new training centre for Agniveer Vayu recruits enlisted under the Agnipath scheme.

However, the closure did not affect Air Chief Marshal Singh’s other farewell engagements. According to sources in the Ministry of Defence, he has already been accorded three official farewells, including one by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, ahead of his retirement on Saturday (October 31). His final ceremonial farewell, featuring a guard of honour, was held on Friday.

Mr. Rajnath Singh hosted an official farewell for the outgoing Air Chief on Sunday (October 26). The Air Headquarters organised a farewell party on Wednesday (October 28) at the Air Force auditorium in Subroto Park, while senior Air Force commanders hosted a farewell dinner on Tuesday (October 27) at the Akash Officers’ Mess near India Gate.

The Defence Ministry also cleared Air Chief Marshal Singh’s request to undertake a sortie with his first flying instructor, Wing Commander V.S. Kochhar (retd.), who retired from the Indian Air Force several years ago.

Published - October 30, 2026 07:40 pm IST