Archive · 24 Aug 2026
Footballers and Citizens Protest Proposed Redevelopment of Mumbai Football Ground
Football players and local residents gathered in Bandra to protect a football ground.
They carried the national flag and called their protest a Tiranga Andolan.
They do not want the ground changed into an exhibition and convention centre.
Aaditya Thackeray helped lead the protest.
Footballer Bhumika Mane said young people need places to play.
Protesters also said Mumbai’s other open spaces should remain available to the public.
The civic body had approved changing the land’s official reservation.
The Bombay High Court then stopped the conversion plan for now.
The court will hear the case again on September 18.
Footballers, coaches, activists and citizens protested the proposed redevelopment of Neville D’Souza Football Ground in Bandra.
Protesters opposed replacing the playground with an exhibition and convention centre.
Aaditya Thackeray led the Tiranga Andolan and said the ground had been used exclusively for football.
The BMC General Body approved changing the ground’s playground reservation under Development Plan 2034.
The Bombay High Court halted the conversion plan on August 20, with the next hearing scheduled for September 18.
- Who
- Footballers, coaches, activists, citizens and political leaders, including Aaditya Thackeray and Haroon Khan, joined the protest.
- What
- They opposed changing Neville D’Souza Football Ground from a playground into an exhibition and convention centre.
- When
- The protest took place on Sunday evening; the Bombay High Court halted the plan on August 20, with the next hearing on September 18.
- Where
- Neville D’Souza Football Ground in Bandra Reclamation, Mumbai.
- Why
- Protesters said the ground should remain available for football and that Mumbai’s open spaces should be protected from private takeover.
Ground Preservation Advocates
Redevelopment Proposal
Future use of the land
Ground Preservation Advocates
Footballers, residents and activists want Neville D’Souza Football Ground to remain a public football ground and playing field.
Redevelopment Proposal
The approved proposal would change the playground reservation to allow an exhibition centre, although the articles do not state the proposal’s detailed justification.
Wider open-space policy
Ground Preservation Advocates
Protest organisers and Haroon Khan said the campaign concerns Mumbai’s open spaces and opposition to their transfer to private entities.
Redevelopment Proposal
The civic reservation-change proposal represents a different planned use for the site; the articles do not identify a separate public statement defending the broader policy.
- Protest name
- Tiranga Andolan
- Ground location
- Bandra Reclamation, Mumbai
- Plot area
- 8,450 square metres
- Proposed change
- Replace the playground reservation with an exhibition centre under Development Plan 2034
- Civic decision
- The BMC General Body approved the reservation change at a special meeting
- Court action
- The Bombay High Court halted the proposed conversion on August 20
- Next hearing
- September 18