06 August,2026 04:16 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
According to Aaditya Thackeray, the three plots cover around 16 acres. File Pic
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Thursday accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of attempting to take over Mumbai's public open spaces, claiming that land used by citizens is being handed over to private organisations, reported the PTI.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Aaditya Thackeray alleged that the BJP's policy was to "steal" the city's open spaces and announced that his party would organise a protest rally against the proposed land allotments.
Aaditya Thackeray alleged that three public plots, owned by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA), had been allotted to Shree Vile Parle Kelavani Mandal (SVKM), which he claimed is linked to a BJP Member of the Legislative Council (MLC), the news agency reported.
According to him, the three plots cover around 16 acres and are currently used by residents as public gardens, playgrounds, recreational grounds and green spaces.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader also claimed that the Neville D'Souza football turf in Bandra was being handed over to what he described as a "BJP's favourite contractor" for the construction of a convention centre, as per the PTI.
He said the ground is regularly used by thousands of football enthusiasts and local residents and should continue to remain accessible to the public.
Aaditya Thackeray further alleged that if such proposals continue, even Mumbai's iconic public grounds, including Azad Maidan, Oval Maidan and Shivaji Park, could come under threat in the future.
He urged the state government to protect the city's open spaces for public use.
During the press conference, Thackeray also criticised Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde, alleging unnecessary expenditure on her official residence and a proposed new official vehicle.
His remarks come amid an ongoing political debate over civic spending and the proposed allotment of public land in Mumbai.
Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde has directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to withdraw a tender worth around Rs 3 crore for infrastructure and upgradation works near the Mayor's official heritage bungalow in Byculla, following objections raised by the opposition, reported the PTI.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Ritu Tawde said the tender had been issued by the BMC's zoo department and was intended for works in the surrounding area, not for the Mayor's residence.
Mayor said she asked the civic administration to cancel the tender because the document referred to the Mumbai Mayor's bungalow, creating the impression that the proposed works were for her official residence.
"I have asked for the tender to be withdrawn because it mentions the Mayor's bungalow. The administration has accepted the mistake and the tender will be withdrawn," Tawde said, according to the PTI.
She stated that she had not sought any renovation or upgrade of the official residence.
According to Tawde, the proposed project included infrastructure works around the heritage property, such as installing sound barriers and setting up container-based structures to accommodate a conference hall and other facilities, the news agency reported.
She stressed that these works were related to the surrounding premises and not to the Mayor's bungalow itself.
Rejecting the allegations, Ritu Tawde said the tender belonged to the BMC's zoo department and had no connection with the Mumbai Mayor's residence.
She also accused Shiv Sena (UBT) of spreading misleading information for political reasons.
(with PTI inputs)
