Urban Development Department to Formulate a New Policy in Coordination: Deputy CM Ajit Pawar

Meeting on Lease Renewal of Plots at Azad Maidan, Cross Maidan, and Oval Maidan

Mumbai : The state government is committed to promoting sports and supporting athletes. To facilitate the renewal of lease agreements for plots at Oval Maidan, Azad Maidan, and Cross Maidan with sports clubs, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has directed the Revenue, Sports, Public Works, and Urban Development departments to come together and formulate a comprehensive and independent policy. He also emphasized that these grounds should be used exclusively for sports.

A meeting, chaired by Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, was held at the Mantralaya to discuss the renewal of lease agreements for these prime sports grounds in Mumbai. Sports Minister Dattatraya Bharne (via video conferencing), Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare, senior officials from various government departments, and representatives from the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) were present.

Deputy CM Pawar highlighted that Azad Maidan, Oval Maidan, and Cross Maidan are vital sports grounds, where thousands of athletes train daily through various clubs. These grounds are owned by the Revenue Department and leased to sports clubs through the Sports Department. Currently, over 60 clubs provide training and practice facilities at these locations, but their lease agreements have expired. He directed that the Revenue, Sports, Public Works, and Urban Development departments work together to draft a unified lease renewal policy, which will be submitted for Cabinet approval before finalization.

Additionally, Deputy CM Pawar instructed officials to construct modern washrooms and changing rooms for players at these sports grounds. He stressed that these facilities should be built in a way that does not obstruct training activities or affect the aesthetics of the grounds. Under no circumstances should these fields be used for anything other than sports, he reiterated.