BMC Passes Resolution for Policy to Regulate Over 1,500 Private Sports Turfs
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation passed a resolution on Friday to introduce an ‘Advanced Smart Turf Policy’ aimed at regulating the city’s rapidly expanding network of private sporting turfs across Mumbai.
The proposal was moved by BJP corporator Tejinder Singh Tiwana in response to a rising number of complaints from residents regarding late-night games, noise pollution, intense floodlights, and the diminishing availability of open recreational spaces. The measure seeks to establish a structured civic framework for all such commercial recreational grounds.
Under the proposed policy, the civic body will make registration on the ‘Khelo Mumbai’ mobile application mandatory for all private turf operators. The digital platform will handle turf registrations, slot bookings, required permissions, and revenue transactions, entirely eliminating cash dealings from the booking ecosystem.
The policy also introduces stringent environmental and safety guidelines. It proposes a complete ban on potentially hazardous rubber crumbs commonly used on synthetic pitches, mandating the use of eco-friendly alternatives instead. Additionally, operators will be required to install roof nets across all turfs to prevent sports balls from flying into adjoining residential buildings and neighbourhoods.
The civic body plans to enforce strict operating standards covering business hours, sound levels, floodlight usage, traffic management, and fire safety compliance. These rules will be supported by regular civic inspections to ensure ongoing adherence.
A formal draft policy will now be prepared and tabled before the BMC civic House for final review and approval. Once officially implemented, the regulatory framework is set to bring more than 1,500 artificial sports turfs across Mumbai under unified municipal oversight, giving authorities greater control over their safety, operations, and environmental footprint.
