View of Neville D’Souza Football Ground in Bandra, Mumbai. (Express photos by Akash Patil)To keep a check on private sporting turfs in Mumbai, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for the first time approved a policy to regulate the mushrooming artificial turf and box-cricket grounds across Mumbai.The policy comes amid a rapid growth of artificial turfs in the city and at a time when a shortage of open recreational spaces has fuelled demand for privately operated sports facilities, with residents raising concerns over late-night games, noise and powerful floodlights.Moved by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) corporator Tejinder Singh Tiwana, the resolution to implement the ‘Advanced Smart Turf Policy’ was cleared by the civic body. A draft proposal will now be formally prepared, which will later be tabled in the civic house for clearance.Once implemented, the proposal will likely bring more than 1,500 artificial turfs under a regulatory framework to monitor registration, bookings, safety compliance, operational hours, noise pollution, fire safety, and environmental compliance.The proposal will also monitor safety measures such as fire permissions and installation of roofs and grills at the turf.The proposal says that all turf facilities will now have to be registered with the civic body, and their bookings, permissions and revenue-related transactions will be routed through the BMC’s ‘Khelo Mumbai’ app to improve transparency and curb unauthorised commercial operations – all in a first.Most of these facilities are classified as ‘indoor commercial zones’ based on which the properties on these turfs stand are taxed by the BMC.Story continues below this adThe proposal, citing potential health and environmental risks, calls for a ban on inferior-quality rubber crumb infill and requires the use of environmentally safer alternatives.Another primary point is to make protective roof nets mandatory at turf facilities, particularly those located near residential areas. The resolution also seeks regular inspections to check noise levels, floodlight glare, traffic-related issues, fire safety and compliance with environmental regulations.“While making Mumbai a sports-friendly city, we cannot compromise on the health and well-being of its citizens. Our objective is not to shut down turfs, but to bring them into a modern and legal framework,” Tiwana said.Pratip Acharya is a seasoned journalist based in Mumbai reporting for The Indian Express. With a career spanning over a decade, his work demonstrates strong Expertise and Authority in critical urban issues, civic affairs, and electoral politics across Eastern and Western India. Expertise & Authority Current Role: Journalist, The Indian Express (IE), reporting from Mumbai. Core Authority: Pratip's reporting focuses sharply on local democracy and development, specializing in: Urban Governance and Civic Affairs: Providing in-depth analysis of municipal decision-making, city planning, and local infrastructure, essential for informed urban reporting. City Politics and Environment: Covering the political dynamics of Mumbai and surrounding areas, alongside critical environmental challenges impacting the metro region. Electoral Coverage (High-Stakes Experience): He has extensive experience in high-stakes political reporting, having covered major elections, establishing his Trustworthiness in political analysis: National: Lok Sabha elections in 2014 and 2019. State: West Bengal Assembly elections in 2016 and Maharashtra Assembly elections in 2019. Major Assignments (Ground Reporting): Pratip demonstrated commitment during crises by conducting ground reporting throughout the Covid-19 pandemic since its breakout in 2020, offering first-hand accounts and analysis of the public health crisis. Experience Extensive Experience: Starting his career in 2014, Pratip has built his foundation across multiple prominent English dailies: Started at The Times of India in Kolkata (2014). Relocated to Mumbai (2016) and worked with The Free Press Journal and Hindustan Times before joining The Indian Express. Pratip Acharya's diverse experience across major publications, coupled with his specialized focus on the intricate details of urban governance and a track record of covering major electoral and health crises, establishes him as a trusted and authoritative source for news from India's critical metropolitan centres. ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on InstagramTags:Maharashtra