BMC Plans New Rules for Sports Turfs on Civic Land

Annual licence fee and one-year amnesty planned for existing unauthorised turfs

Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is planning to regulate commercial sports turfs operating on municipal leasehold land, including cricket pitches and other artificial or natural playing surfaces.

The move follows concerns over turfs being operated commercially without the required permissions or No Objection Certificates, while generating revenue for lessees, occupants or third-party operators.

Under the framework, the BMC would levy an annual Turf Licence Fee equal to 1% of the applicable Ready Reckoner land rate multiplied by the turf area.

Operators would need to submit documents including a layout plan, stability certificate, PAN and GST details, along with lease or third-party agreements. Where the operator is not the original lessee, an NOC from the lessee would also be required.

Licences could be issued for one or three years, subject to renewal and the remaining period of the underlying lease. The BMC could cancel permissions in cases of violations and direct removal of the turf.

One-year window for existing turfs

Existing unauthorised sports turfs would get a one-year window to apply for regularisation. Eligible operators would receive a proposed 40% concession on the licence fee, subject to approval by the municipal commissioner.

Those continuing without permission after the amnesty period could face a penalty equivalent to five times the applicable licence fee, along with possible sealing or closure.

The framework also distinguishes between temporary sports facilities and permanent construction. Covered, permanent or RCC structures would not qualify as permitted turf facilities.

The move could bring commercially operated sports turfs on civic land under a formal licensing system while giving the BMC greater oversight of land use and commercial activity.

The measure applies specifically to municipal leasehold plots and is not a statewide real-estate regulation. Its final terms will depend on the BMC’s approval process.