# Centre orders Delhi Gymkhana Club to vacate by June 5 2026-08-07T18:05:30+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet The Centre has asked the historic Delhi Gymkhana Club to hand over its 27.3-acre premises at 2, Safdarjung Road by June 5, citing the need to strengthen defence infrastructure and for other public security purposes. The Land and Development Office under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs issued the order on May 22, saying the land falls in a highly sensitive and strategic zone and is required for urgent institutional and governance needs. Founded in 1913 as the Imperial Delhi Gymkhana Club, the institution was designed by architect Robert Tor Russell, who also built Connaught Place and Teen Murti Bhawan. It has been a symbol of colonial-era elegance and elite membership for over a century. The move has sparked debate, with some calling the club a colonial relic while others defend its historical value. ## Coverage - millenniumpost.in Tags: defence infrastructure, Delhi Gymkhana Club, Land and Development Office, Lutyens Delhi, Robert Tor Russell Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/centre-orders-delhi-gymkhana-club-to-vacate-by-june-5/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/centre-orders-delhi-gymkhana-club-to-vacate-by-june-5/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.