MUMBAI: Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)’s plan to convert an 8,450-square-metre football field at Bandra Reclamation into a convention and exhibition center moved a step forward on Wednesday, when the civic body’s reform committee approved a proposal to amend the Development Plan (DP) 2034 and change the reservation of the plot.
The move revives a long-pending proposal for a convention facility in the prime locality. HT had first reported on May 20 about the re-designation process being initiated by the BMC.
Under the approved DP 2034, the plot – CTS No. 791 (Part) – is designated as an existing facility and reserved for playground and sports field. The land belongs to the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) and is currently being used as a football field, with a turf facility running on a portion of the site. The plot has been allotted to Mumbai Football Association.
According to documents presented before the reforms committee, MHADA had written to the BMC in November 2025 seeking restoration of the plot’s earlier planning designation as a “convention complex”.
BMC officials said Bandra Reclamation was originally part of the Bandra-Kurla Complex notified area under the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). The planning authority for the area was transferred to BMC in 2015.
Officials said that under the original Bandra Reclamation Layout approved in 1983, a large plot of land adjacent to the Bombay Art Society, covering an area of ​​about 2.58 hectares, was earmarked for a convention complex. However, while drafting DP 2034, the site was shown as an existing sports ground as it was functioning as a football field and remained open land.
After examining MHADA’s request, the Development Planning Department concluded that it was appropriate to restore the earlier land use, given the absence of a convention or exhibition facility in the area. Officials said since there is no specific reservation category for the convention center in DP 2034, the BMC has proposed to redesign the land as an exhibition centre.
Under the proposal, the existing playground reservation spread over 6,897.4 square meters and existing playground reservation spread over 1,552.6 square meters will be removed. In total, about 8,450 square meters of land will be re-designated as an exhibition centre, officials said.
The change requires amendment to the DP approved under Section 37(1) of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966. The BMC will now invite public suggestions and objections, hold a hearing and then send the proposal to the state urban development department for final approval.
The proposal was criticized by the opposition, with Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) corporators questioning the removal of sports reservation in an area already facing shortage of open spaces.
Shiv Sena (UBT) councilor Vishakha Raut said the ground has produced many national and international footballers and should be preserved. He said, “When there is already a shortage of open spaces, why is the football ground being unreserved? Just as Shivaji Park has been the bastion of cricketers, this ground has been the bastion of football players. The proposal should be sent back for reconsideration.”
Defending the proposal, BJP councilor from Bandra Swapna Mhatre said it is a misconception that reservation is being changed arbitrarily. He said MHADA had historically reserved the land for a convention center and had also constructed a boundary wall using funds raised by local MLA Ashish Shelar to prevent encroachment by slum dwellers.
“This is MHADA’s property, and the notion that we are changing the reservation is not entirely correct. If MHADA itself wants restoration of its original reservation, the matter needs to be seen in that context,” Mhatre said.
