Environmentalists submitted before a Division Bench led by Justice T S Thakur that the land agency also “ignored” the nearby government sports facility for developing the village.

The application comes at the fag end of the arguments raised to highlight the “ecological harm” caused to the Yamuna riverbed with the construction of the village and supporting Delhi Metro infrastructure.

Listing the benefits of Safdarjung Airport as an alternative spot, the conservationists said that the “connectivity of the Safdarjung Airport to the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (one of the Games’ venue) is excellent to say the least”.

“It is notable that the Ring railway (which is merely a 10-minute ride) connects the two sites. The road connection is also straight and less than 15 minutes’ journey,” the application states.

Environmentalists claim that authorities had on previous occasions proposed several alternative uses for the airport area since 2001 after it was found unsuitable for flying purposes, but it would best fit the glove for the Games Village, especially with many of the international missions located nearby at Chanakyapuri and the “sprawling Nehru Park, and hotels like The Ashok located next door”.

“It is on record that the Expert Appraisal Committee of the Ministry of Environment and Forests had, on finding serious environmental problems with the site on the riverbed, suggested the airport as an alternative,” they submitted.

“The change (to Safdarjung Airport) will mean the Games Village be raised at a truly central location in the city and the river bed remains safe as a win-win situation from all angles,” the environmentalists noted.