New Delhi, Oct 30 The Indian Air Force (IAF) will accord a ceremonial guard of honour to outgoing Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh on Saturday at the Race Course Air Force Station parade ground in the national capital, just days after a sports facility inside the sprawling complex was closed by the Centre.
Air Chief Marshal Singh, who is credited with the execution of Operation Sindoor and known for his straight talk, will retire from service after a distinguished 42-year-long career, and will be succeeded by Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, an accomplished fighter pilot.
Air Chief Marshal Singh will be accorded the farewell guard of honour on October 31 at the parade ground Race Course Air Force station, people familiar with the matter said.
The new Chief of Air Staff will also be given a guard of honour at the same venue on November 1, they said.
On Friday, Air Chief Marshal Singh along with his wife Sarita Singh called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The Race Course Air Force Station’s sports complex – which featured a golf course, a swimming pool, and other amenities – was closed on Wednesday.
The Land and Development Office (L&DO), operating under the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry, issued eviction notices to the complex’s management, demanding the return of the land situated near the Prime Minister’s official residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg.
This move comes as part of the Centre’s recent drive to reclaim high-value land parcels across the area.
Over the past several weeks, the government has initiated a review of prime land parcels near Lok Kalyan Marg through the L&DO with a view to reclaiming plots used for defence golf and sports facilities.
The Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry had earlier asked the entities concerned to hand over the land housing the Air Force Golf Course.
In August, the department evicted the Delhi Race Club from its 53-acre premises on Lok Kalyan Marg, citing the requirement of the land for an unspecified public purpose.
It also reclaimed the Jaipur Polo Ground from the India Polo Association, citing broader public purposes, governance and defence infrastructure projects.
(PTI News)
