The Indian central government ordered the Delhi Gymkhana Club to vacate and hand over its 27.3-acre [1] premises by June 5, 2026 [3].
The move signals a prioritization of national security infrastructure over the tenure of historic private institutions in the high-security Lutyens' Delhi zone. Because the premises are located on Safdarjung Road, the takeover affects one of the most sensitive administrative areas of the capital.
According to government communications, the land is critically required for the strengthening and securing of defence infrastructure, and other vital public security purposes [5]. The order specifies that the handover of the 27.3-acre [1] plot must be completed by the June 5 deadline [3].
The Delhi Gymkhana Club is a British-era institution that has long occupied the prime real estate. The government's directive for an immediate takeover comes as part of a broader effort to secure vital public security assets in the heart of New Delhi [2].
Representatives for the club have indicated they will not comply with the order without a legal challenge. "We will move court," a Delhi Gymkhana Club spokesperson said [4].
The order emphasizes that the land was required for strengthening and securing defence infrastructure [6]. The government has not yet detailed the specific projects intended for the site, though the focus remains on public security [5].
“The land was "critically required for the strengthening and securing of defence infrastructure."”
This directive reflects the Indian government's increasing emphasis on securing the Lutyens' Delhi perimeter. By reclaiming large tracts of land from private or semi-private clubs for defense purposes, the state is consolidating control over the capital's most sensitive geographic corridor to mitigate security vulnerabilities.
