3 weeks ago
MFA Moves Bombay HC Against Bandra Football Ground Conversion
The Neville D'Souza Football Ground is a big football field in Bandra, Mumbai, where many teams play.
It has a special artificial turf and seats about 5,000 people.
Thousands of young players use the ground every year.
The city government, called the BMC, has a plan to change the ground into a convention centre, a place for big events and exhibitions.
A football group called the Mumbai Football Association does not like this plan.
It has asked the Bombay High Court, a very important court, to stop the change.
Politicians from the Congress party and Shiv Sena UBT also want the ground to stay a football field.
They say children need open spaces to play sports.
The city says the housing authority MHADA asked for the change because the land was meant for a convention complex back in 1983.
Now the court will decide what happens to the football ground.
The Mumbai Football Association (MFA) has filed Writ Petition (L) No. 27020 of 2026 in the Bombay High Court challenging the proposed conversion of the Neville D'Souza Football Ground, which is listed for hearing on Friday before the Chief Justice's Bench.
The proposal would amend DP 2034 to change the ground's reservation from Playground (PG) to a convention or exhibition centre under Section 37(1) of the MRTP Act, 1966, following a November 3, 2025 MHADA letter and a May 2026 BMC Improvements Committee recommendation.
MFA argues the 8,450 sq m MHADA-owned ground has FIFA-standard artificial turf, seats about 5,000 spectators, hosts over 900 official matches per season, and is used by nearly 400 youth clubs, 300 senior teams and more than 10,000 players.
A Congress delegation led by group leader Ashraf Azmi met Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide demanding the proposal be withdrawn, while Shiv Sena UBT cited MLA Aaditya Thackeray's objection and the existing convention centre at Bandra-Kurla Complex.
BMC says the change was initiated at MHADA's request because the land was originally earmarked for a convention complex under the 1983 Bandra Reclamation layout, and the proposal is due before the BMC civic house on August 10.
- Who
- The Mumbai Football Association (MFA), the Bombay High Court, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA), and politicians from Congress and Shiv Sena UBT.
- What
- A writ petition challenging the proposed conversion of the Neville D'Souza Football Ground at Bandra Reclamation into an exhibition and convention centre by changing its DP 2034 reservation.
- Where
- Bandra Reclamation, Mumbai, India.
- When
- The petition is listed for hearing on Friday, days before the BMC civic house is expected to consider the proposal on August 10.
- Why
- MFA and its political supporters want to preserve a key football venue and public open space, while BMC and MHADA say the land was originally earmarked for a convention complex and the change would fill an infrastructure gap.
Opponents of the conversion
Supporters of the conversion (BMC/MHADA)
Future of the football ground
Opponents of the conversion
The ground should remain reserved for sports and open space; it is the backbone of Mumbai's football ecosystem with FIFA-standard turf used by thousands of players, and losing it would disrupt clubs, coaches, leagues and community programmes.
Supporters of the conversion (BMC/MHADA)
The land was originally earmarked for a convention complex under the 1983 Bandra Reclamation layout, and the change simply restores that designation while addressing an infrastructure gap.
Need for a new convention centre
Opponents of the conversion
Existing venues such as the Jio World Convention Centre, St. Andrew's Auditorium, MMRDA Exhibition Grounds and the Bandra-Kurla Complex convention centre make another exhibition facility unnecessary.
Supporters of the conversion (BMC/MHADA)
There is currently no convention or exhibition facility in the immediate vicinity, so changing the reservation would help fill that gap.
Impact on open spaces and housing
Opponents of the conversion
Converting the ground would reduce the city's already shrinking open spaces and harm aspiring athletes, and the change was proposed without consultation, a sports impact assessment or an alternative-site analysis.
Supporters of the conversion (BMC/MHADA)
The plot was marked as a playground in DP 2034 because it was vacant at the time, and revenue generated from the project would support affordable housing initiatives.
Key facts
- Facility
- Neville D'Souza Football Ground, Bandra Reclamation
- Plot size
- 8,450 sq m
- Land owner
- MHADA
- Proposed change
- Reservation from Playground (PG) to Convention/Exhibition Centre under Section 37(1) of MRTP Act, 1966
- Petition
- Writ Petition (L) No. 27020 of 2026 before the Bombay High Court
- Ground features
- FIFA-standard artificial turf, seating for about 5,000 spectators, over 900 official matches per season
- Facility usage
- Nearly 400 youth clubs, 300 senior teams and more than 10,000 players
- Key dates
- MHADA letter (Nov 3, 2025), BMC Improvements Committee recommendation (May 2026), BMC House consideration (Aug 10, 2026)
Quotes
Mumbai Football Association
Representative of the Mumbai Football Association
“"The ground is an existing, functioning, and intensively used public sporting amenity with established football infrastructure. The loss of the physical facility would disrupt the clubs, coaches, leagues, players, and community programmes which depend upon it."”
freepressjournal.in
“The proposal was initiated following a request from MHADA, which stated that the land had originally been earmarked for a convention complex.”
freepressjournal.in
Ashraf Azmi
Congress delegation leader opposing the conversion
“The ground should remain reserved exclusively for sports and recreational activities.”
freepressjournal.in
Sources
Related news
Bombay HC Seeks BMC Response on Bandra Football Ground Conversion
BMC Approves Neville D’Souza Ground Convention Centre Conversion
Protest Against Bandra Football Ground Conversion into Convention Centre
Congress, Shiv Sena Oppose Football Ground to Exhibition Centre Plan
Bombay HC Advances Hearing Over BMC Neville D’Souza Ground Plan
Bombay HC Halts BMC Plan For Bandra Football Ground
Bombay High Court Orders CBI Probe Into Disha Salian Death
Bombay High Court Orders CBI Probe Into Disha Salian Death
Bombay High Court Orders CBI FIR Probe Into Salian Death
Shiv Sena Launches Year-Long Cleanliness Campaign in Worli Koliwada
Bombay High Court Questions Disha Salian Death Probe
