Mumbai, August 6, 2026: The controversy over the proposed change in reservation of the Neville D’Souza Football Ground at Bandra Reclamation has intensified, with the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress opposing the move to convert the playground into an exhibition centre.
Ahead of the proposal being placed before the civic House for approval next week, a Congress delegation met Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide and demanded its withdrawal on Thursday. The party urged the BMC to retain the ground exclusively for sports and recreational activities, stressing the need to protect open spaces in the city.
Opposition Voices Concern
The proposal seeks to amend the Development Plan (DP) 2034 by replacing the existing playground reservation and facility on an 8,450 sq m Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA)-owned plot at Bandra Reclamation with a reservation for an Exhibition Centre.
Opposing the move, Congress group leader Ashraf Azmi said the ground is not merely a piece of land but a cornerstone of Mumbai’s football ecosystem.
He claimed that around 400 youth clubs and 300 senior clubs use the ground every year, providing training opportunities to nearly 8,000-10,000 young footballers.
Calling the ground a symbol of Mumbai’s sporting legacy and the aspirations of thousands of emerging players, Azmi urged the BMC to protect the public sports facility and withdraw the proposal.
Raising a point of order in the BMC Standing Committee on Thursday, Azmi urged Chairman Prabhakar Shinde to intervene and stop the proposal to convert the Bandra Reclamation playground into an Exhibition Centre.
Questioning the move, Azmi said, “At a time when the youth are already facing issues like paper leaks and limited opportunities, taking away a crucial sports ground will further hurt their prospects. If playgrounds are also taken away, how will young athletes find space to train and progress?”
He appealed to the administration and the ruling BJP to protect the city's open spaces and preserve the ground for sports activities.
Shiv Sena UBT Objects
Shiv Sena (UBT) corporator Yashodhar Phanse opposed the proposal, stating that MLA Aaditya Thackeray has already raised objections against handing over valuable open spaces for commercial use.
“Open spaces should not be pushed into anyone’s hands. The Bandra-Kurla Complex already has a convention centre, so there is no need to change the reservation of this playground,” Phanse said.
He warned that the party would strongly oppose any move to alter the reservation and demanded that the ground continue to remain dedicated to sports and recreational activities.
BMC Explains Proposal
According to the BMC administration, the proposed reservation change is based on a request from MHADA, which stated that the plot was originally earmarked for a convention complex under the Bandra Reclamation layout approved by the state government in 1983.
However, during the preparation of DP 2034, the land was marked as a playground as it was vacant and being used for football activities.
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BMC records show that the 8,450 sq m plot is owned by MHADA and allotted to the Mumbai Football Association, with parts of the land currently covered by turf.
Civic officials argued that since there is no convention or exhibition facility in the vicinity, converting the reservation to an Exhibition Centre would address an existing infrastructure gap.
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