Bandra Reclamation Football Ground Conversion Plan Faces Opposition From MP Varsha Gaikwad & Protesters | Video
· Free Press Journal
Mumbai: Mumbai North Central MP and Mumbai Congress president Varsha Gaikwad has opposed the BMC's proposal to convert the 8,450 sq m Bandra Reclamation football ground into a convention and exhibition centre, demanding that the existing sports ground reservation be retained. Meanwhile, footballers, coaches, residents and activists staged a peaceful protest at the historic Neville D'Souza Football Ground, urging the civic body to preserve one of Mumbai's few remaining public sports grounds.
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We will not let Neville D'souza ground be converted to a convention center!
— Prof. Varsha Eknath Gaikwad (@VarshaEGaikwad) June 28, 2026
Met residents and children of Bandra today and joined their fight to save Neville D'souza ground. The @mybmc cannot arbitrarily change reservation of grounds that serve a larger public good. Many… pic.twitter.com/HNRzHjM4wy
Wrote to the @mybmc Commissioner @AshwiniBhide registering a strong protest against changing the reservation of Neville D'souza football ground in Bandra. Demanded that this change in reservation be immediately scrapped and that any future change of land reservation across the… pic.twitter.com/MB4ww5Rt8P
— Prof. Varsha Eknath Gaikwad (@VarshaEGaikwad) June 28, 2026
In her letter to BMC Commissioner Ashwini Bhide, Gaikwad said the state government had approved the Bandra Reclamation plot as an Existing Open Space/Sports Ground and Reserved Sports Ground under DP 2034 in April 2023. Altering the reservation within a few years of the plan's approval, she argued, would undermine the credibility of Mumbai's statutory planning process. She noted that the ground is a fully functional public sports facility with an artificial turf, regularly used by local residents, students, youth and sports organisations.
Successful protest done in Mumbai Football arena by our ex football players,Maharashtra Coach Santosh Kashyap & MFA Staffs & Employees for protection of Neville Dsouza Ground#SaveNevilleDsouzaGround#SaveMumbaiFootball#SaveIndianFootball#SaveMaharashtraFootball pic.twitter.com/0iulxtrx34
— Indian Football News and Updates (@IndianFoot92050) June 28, 2026
Gaikwad said Bandra (West), a densely populated locality, has no other fully developed public sports ground, and converting the site into an exhibition centre would permanently deprive children and young athletes of one of the area's last major playgrounds. She demanded that the existing sports ground reservation be retained, the proposed reservation change be stayed, and any decision on land use be preceded by a public hearing and due consideration of citizens' objections.
Hon. MP & Mumbai Congress President Varsha Tai Gaikwad (@VarshaEGaikwad) visited Neville D'Souza Football Ground (Bandra Football Ground) to extend her support to the #SaveTheGround movement and stand with local residents, sportspersons, and young footballers.
— Mumbai Congress (@INCMumbai) June 28, 2026
"The world is… pic.twitter.com/CnELUDJei3
The proposal has sparked widespread opposition from elected representatives, sports bodies, social organisations and local residents. An online petition launched by the 'We Are Stronger Together Foundation' had garnered nearly 10 thousand signatures by Sunday evening. The protest drew MP Varsha Gaikwad, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Haroon Khan, local corporators, Mumbai Football Association (MFA) office-bearers.
My opinion on State Government,MMRDA & BMC destroying Neville Dsouza Ground for exhibition centre.Shameful decision by Maharashtra Government.Please @Dev_Fadnavis @narendramodi @AmitShah @mansukhmandviya @mybmc reconsider this decision
— Arman Khan (@HopelessFanASM) June 27, 2026
Dont destroy career of State level football… pic.twitter.com/npv4qk25x8
VIDEO | NCP (SP) national spokesperson Clyde Crasto says, "BMC is converting the Neville D'Souza football ground in Bandra Reclamation into an exhibition and convention centre. This football ground has a full-sized football field. Thousands of footballers have practised and… pic.twitter.com/K1X9mBMCA7
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 28, 2026
Social activist Furkan Shaikh, who joined the demonstration in solidarity with the football community, said, "This is not a choice between development and sports. Mumbai needs convention centres, but not at the cost of its shrinking playgrounds. The overwhelming public response reflects the city's resolve to protect this historic ground for future generations."
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