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Ex-Air Chief Urges Govt to Keep IAF Control of Sports Complex

Air Chief Marshal AP Singh sought to preserve IAF's control over a sports complex amid government reclamation efforts.

New York Editorial News Desk November 2, 2026 1 min read

The Brief

  • Air Chief Marshal AP Singh urged Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to retain IAF control of the Race Course Air Force Station's sports complex.
  • The reclamation of the land has led to the closure of the sports complex and cancellation of Singh's farewell event.
  • The land in question spans about 40 acres and is part of a larger effort by MoHUA to reclaim land near the Prime Minister's residence.

On October 26, days before his retirement on October 31, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh wrote to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, urging the government to maintain the Indian Air Force's control over prime land at the Race Course Air Force Station, near the Prime Minister's residence.

The letter came against the backdrop of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) seeking to reclaim a large sports complex within the station, a move that has sparked controversy in defence circles and led to the cancellation of Singh's farewell event.

The Air Force Sports Complex (AFSC), located within the Race Course Air Force Station, was closed to members last month until further notice, following the government's decision to reclaim the land previously allocated to the IAF.

Singh emphasized the operational importance of the land housing the AFSC, which includes facilities such as a golf course, swimming pool, fitness centre, and restaurants. The closure of the complex disrupted plans for a farewell golf event, raising questions about the timing of the government's action.

The Land and Development Office (L&DO), under MoHUA, has completed a survey of the sports complex, which is no longer in use. Singh requested that the authorities hand over the land to the IAF, suggesting the matter should be reconsidered.

Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, the new IAF chief, has pledged to focus on the training, professional excellence, morale, safety, welfare, and dignity of all air force personnel, and is expected to take the matter forward.

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