Navi Mumbai News: Sanpada Residents Protest Proposed Archery Training Centre On DY Patil Ground, Urge NMMC To Scrap Project

Navi Mumbai: A major public outcry has erupted in Sanpada’s Sector 10 and 11 over the proposed construction of archery training centre on the D.Y. Patil ground the only large open space in the locality.

Residents, community leaders, and local political representatives have come together to demand an immediate halt to the project, urging the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) to cancel the proposed plan.

Residents Submit Letters to NMMC Commissioner Opposing Encroachment of Open Space

Three separate letters including a signed petition were submitted to the NMMC commissioner on Tuesday by the Maidan Bachao Kruti Samiti, Shiv Sena’s ( uddhav Thackeray unit) , and concerned citizens. All documents highlight growing frustration over the gradual encroachment of public grounds in the name of development.

Local Ground Serves as Recreational Lifeline for Sanpada Sector 10 and 11

The disputed ground is currently used by residents for cricket, football, daily walks, and public and cultural events. “This is the only remaining open space in Sanpada Sector 10 and 11. Once the sports complex is built, children and citizens will lose their only accessible recreational area,” stated Babaji Suman Mahadev Indore, president of the Maidan Bachao Kruti Samiti, in his letter to the municipal commissioner.

The residents argue that the project masked as urban renewal is an unjust attempt to commercialize a community asset. According to the protestors, the development will restrict access, disrupt local traditions of using the ground for festivals, and undermine youth activities.

Political Support Builds Against Project Amid Past Protest History

The issue has also gained political traction. Shiv Sena’s Sanpada division head, Babaji Indore, voiced firm opposition in his official letter to the NMMC, citing a prior attempt in 2023 when the same proposal was thwarted due to public pressure. “If the plan is not scrapped, we will intensify our protests,” he warned.

A third letter, signed by over a dozen local citizens, reiterates the same demand, underlining that the ground must remain open to the public for free and equitable use. The letter notes that the community held a symbolic protest on July 22 at the site. The NMMC has yet to release an official response.

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