Even as the BMC faces scrutiny over the proposed change in reservation of Neville D’Souza ground, civic records show that the reservation of 17 land parcels across Mumbai has been altered in the last four years, including plots earmarked for gardens, recreation spaces, the Byculla zoo, a portion of the Mahalaxmi Racecourse and salt pan land.

Significantly, 14 of these changes were made between 2023 and 2025, when the BMC had no elected general body and the administration was being run by appointed officials after municipal elections were deferred in 2022.

The details, provided by the civic administration to Congress leader and senior corporator Ashraf Azmi after he sought the information, show that eight of the 17 plots were originally reserved for gardens, recreation areas or natural open spaces. Other plots were reserved for public amenities such as schools, hospitals, municipal offices, transport depots and asphalt plants.

The DP framework also allows reservations to be modified when required. However, Azmi alleged that the frequency and nature of the changes raised questions, particularly as several plots are located in commercially valuable parts of the city.

“The civic data clearly shows that these decisions were taken arbitrarily. If the administration wants to change the reservation of these plots so frequently, then what is the point of having a DP module?” Azmi told .

“Mumbai is a space-starved city, and citizens need more open spaces for their well-being. Instead of creating space for citizens, the administration is giving these land parcels away,” he said. Azmi said he had first sought the details from the civic administration in April.

Among the prominent changes is a portion of the Mahalaxmi Racecourse, whose reservation was changed to a commercial zone in October 2024. A plot in Byculla reserved for the extension of the Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Botanical Udyan and Zoo was changed to a residential zone in February 2024.

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A salt pan parcel in Mazgaon was changed in April 2026 for a VVPAT storage facility and government office. In Dahisar, a recreational plot was changed in January 2026 to make way for a community hall. In Nahur, land earlier reserved as a recreation ground was changed to an aviary or bird park in April 2025.


Azmi questioned the changes involving the Racecourse and zoo land.

“The government has been saying that the Racecourse ground will be opened to the public as an accessible open space and no development will be allowed there. But the reservation says otherwise. Similarly, land reserved for expanding the zoo is being reserved for housing projects. With whose permission were these done and who does the administration want to benefit?” he asked.

A senior official from the BMC’s Development Plan department, however, said a change in reservation did not automatically mean that the land would be handed over to a private party.

“Reservation of land parcels is altered from time to time to ensure the city’s overall land bank is equally distributed. If required, the reservation of any land parcel could also be altered in the long run,” the official said.