Now Reading: Centre orders Delhi Gymkhana Club to vacate by June 5
-
01
Centre orders Delhi Gymkhana Club to vacate by June 5
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…
The Story in Brief
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.
The Indian Opinion
The Gymkhana Club's closure pits heritage against security, but both sides lean on lazy binaries. Calling it just a 'colonial vestige' ignores its role in post-Independence social history; crying heritage alone dodges the government's stated defence needs. The real test is whether the government offers a credible plan for the site's reuse, and whether due process is followed for a property that has housed India's power elite for generations.
Source: millenniumpost.in
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
