India’s first amusement park, Appu Ghar, is set to close after the Supreme Court ordered that the 15 acres of land it occupies in the capital was to be transferred to court authorities and the Delhi Metro Railway Corporation for their expansions.

The land was part of a plot allocated by the government to the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) in 1976, which in turn sub-let 1.74 acres in 1984 to Indian Amusement Ltd (IAL) to operate Appu Ghar for three years.

The lease period was continually extended until 1999 when it expired and ITPO asked IAL to vacate the land – IAL has been fighting the decision ever since but the apex court has now said the land must be handed over.

The park boasts 22 rides including rollercoasters, dodgems, a cable car and a giant wheel and the O.Y.S.T.E.R.S waterpark.