Delhi Race Club and Indian Polo Association Ordered to Vacate Prime Land
The Land and Development Office (L&DO), operating under the Ministry of Urban Affairs, has issued formal notices to the Delhi Race Club and the Indian Polo Association (IPA), demanding they vacate a prime 68-acre land parcel situated on Lok Kalyan Marg. This prestigious location is directly opposite the Prime Minister's official residence, with the land's market value estimated to be in the thousands of crores of rupees.
Decades of Occupation After Lease Expiry
Both entities have been occupying the land for more than three decades, well after their original leases expired. The Delhi Race Club occupies a 53.2-acre parcel for the Delhi Race Course, while the Indian Polo Association uses a 15.2-acre area for the Jaipur Polo Ground. Officials confirmed this marks the second time in the past eight years that such eviction notices have been served, with the previous instance occurring in November 2017.
Public Purpose and Redevelopment Plans
The notices state that the land is required "for public purpose, as part of the larger planning and development of the area under the government's control." A senior official from the Urban Affairs Ministry elaborated that this action is integral to a broader redevelopment plan for the area. While the specific details of the plan have not been publicly disclosed, the move aligns with efforts to optimize land use in the capital.
Timelines and Previous Negotiations
The Indian Polo Association has been given a strict 15-day deadline to vacate the premises. However, the exact timeline for the Delhi Race Club's eviction remains uncertain at this time. It has been revealed that the L&DO engaged in multiple rounds of discussions with both organizations over the past few years. These talks included potential discussions about relocating to alternative sites, but no conclusive agreements were reached.
Broader Eviction Context in the Vicinity
This action follows a similar pattern in the surrounding area. Last month, the L&DO issued notices to over 700 households residing in slum settlements such as Bhai Ram Camp, Masjid Camp, and DID Camp, located near the Race Course and Jaipur Polo Ground Road. These residents were instructed to vacate by March 6 and relocate to flats allotted to them at the DUSIB Colony in Savda Ghevra.
The simultaneous notices to both prestigious sporting institutions and residential settlements underscore a coordinated effort by authorities to reclaim and redevelop this highly valuable zone in the heart of Delhi for planned urban development initiatives.
