MHADA Defends Plan to Convert Bandra Football Ground Into Exhibition Centre
The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) has defended its controversial proposal to convert the Neville D’Souza Football Ground at Bandra Reclamation in Mumbai into an exhibition and convention centre. The move, which was approved by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) improvements committee last month, has sparked strong protests from local footballers, coaches, and sports enthusiasts.
MHADA officials clarified that using the 8,450-square-metre site as a playground was only a temporary arrangement. The authority plans to use the revenue generated from the proposed convention centre to fund its affordable housing projects.
Milind Borikar, the chief officer of MHADA’s Mumbai board, explained that the authority is seeking a sustainable and steady source of income. "The revenue generated from the convention centre will be utilised for housing projects. We are yet to work out the exact projections," Borikar said.
The proposal involves deleting the site’s reservation as a "playground/sports ground" and redesignating it as an "exhibition centre" under Mumbai’s Development Plan (DP) 2034. Specifically, the reservation of 6,897.4 square metres of sports ground amenity and 1,552.6 square metres of playground reservation will be removed to make way for the new facility.
The decision has drawn criticism from the local sports community, who argue that the city cannot afford to lose one of its few dedicated football grounds. Named after the former India football captain Neville D'Souza, the ground hosts local tournaments and has produced several national and Olympic-level players.
However, Borikar defended the decision on Monday, stating that the plot was originally earmarked for a convention centre under the Bandra Reclamation layout approved in 1983. Because MHADA had no immediate plans to construct a complex at the time, the land was temporarily given to the football federation for use as a playground.
According to Borikar, the demand for convention centres in Mumbai has since increased, and the Bandra Reclamation plot offers a viable opportunity to create a permanent revenue stream.
While the BMC’s improvements committee approved the amendment last month, MHADA is still awaiting the official resolution. The proposal must now be cleared by the BMC’s general body before the state's urban development department takes a final decision. The BMC’s development planning department has supported the proposal, noting that there is currently no convention centre facility in the surrounding area.
