Karnataka Government Grants Thirty-Year Land Lease to Bangalore Turf Club

UPDATE - follow-up to Cabinet approves 30-year lease of four acres in High Grounds to Bangalore Turf Club: The Karnataka government has cleared a thirty-year land lease for the Bangalore Turf Club covering a four-acre plot at its existing High Grounds location. This site holds club facilities along with a heritage building.

Relocation Plans

Racing events will move to the Kunigal Stud Farm following an earlier government choice to deny a lease extension at the primary site. The club previously asked for six acres to keep running its member services and external betting counters, but authorities sanctioned only four acres instead. Minister Eshwar Khandre confirmed the cabinet clearance to reporters and noted that the club asked for extra time to finish moving horses and events to Kunigal.

Schedule Update

In a separate administrative decision, the winter legislative session in Belagavi was pushed back. The meetings will now run from December 2 instead of the original start date of November 30, and will still conclude on December 11.

Context

State governments occasionally take back prime urban land held by sports and social clubs when lease agreements expire, often redirecting commercial or recreational spaces toward public use or infrastructure. Moving major equestrian events outside city limits frees up valuable central land while giving clubs a chance to operate from rural stud farms where space for horses is more readily available.