The Land and Development Office (L&DO) under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has asked the Gymkhana Club to hand over the premises at 2, Safdarjung Road by June 5, 2026. The ministry has asked for the property for defence needs and other vital public infrastructure projects.
The order by the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry said the land was required to meet urgent institutional needs, governance infrastructure and public-interest projects in the national capital.
Notably, the Delhi Gymkhana Club, a colonial-era landmark, was established in 1913 as the Imperial Delhi Gymkhana Club. It has been a major landmark of upscale society in Delhi since then.
While it was a hub for British imperialists before independence, since then, it has become a networking hub for politicians, senior bureaucrats, judges and business figures.
Getting a membership of this club is notoriously difficult, with waiting period extending to several decades if you don’t have the right connections.
However, now, the Indian government is set to take over the lavish premises of the club as they are needed for Indian security needs. Interestingly, the club had earlier faced criticism for its favoritism, financial irregularities, and for carrying forward the colonial era discrimination.
