Mumbai: A day after BMC’s general body approved a proposal to change the reservation of the Neville D’Souza Football Ground at Bandra Reclamation from a playground to a convention and exhibition centre, Bombay high court on Wednesday agreed to advance the hearing on a petition to save it from Aug 24 to Thursday. HC was told that BMC took the decision despite its oral assurance to the court on Aug 10 that it would not take steps on the proposal.“If we feel any decision was taken which is not appropriate as per what transpired that day, we will be dealing with it,” said Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad.Senior advocate Zal Andhyarujina, for petitioner Mumbai Football Association (MFA), sought an urgent hearing. He said there was an “arrangement” on Aug 10 that BMC would not take any steps and the matter was kept for Aug 24. “We did not seek a statement to be recorded, but it was understood. Now, the general body has taken a decision based on approval of the improvement committee [of BMC],” he said. The judges then said they would hear the matter on Thursday.On Aug 10, BMC’s advocate had said the civic body’s sanction and a further procedure for inviting objections and suggestions would be required before a final decision was taken. HC then directed BMC to file its reply.MFA’s petition challenged the improvement committee’s May 2026 proposal to change the reservation of the playground and open space in Development Plan 2034 to a convention complex/exhibition centre. There was no disclosure of planning material, hearing or consultation with stakeholders, user survey or feasibility study or even assessment of alternative sites before proposing the change, it said. MFA referred to several existing nearby venues, including Jio World Convention Centre, St Andrew’s Auditorium and MMRDA grounds. No notice was issued to MFA, which has used the playground for over 15 years under renewed permissions by Mhada, said the plea.The petition said the ground is a key part of Mumbai’s football ecosystem. It has FIFA-standard artificial turf and seating for about 5,000 spectators, hosts over 900 official matches every season, and nearly 400 youth clubs, 300 senior teams and over 10,000 players use the facility, it said.MFA urged HC to direct the authorities to produce the complete original record related to the proposed change and to quash and set aside BMC’s approval. Seeking interim protection, it asked the court to restrain the authorities from changing the ground’s physical nature, removing/damaging the turf, and initiating other infrastructure or demolition or construction by inviting tenders.
