Ashwini Bhide was appointed Commissioner of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Tuesday, becoming the first woman to head the country’s richest civic body. The 55-year-old IAS officer assumes duties while Bhushan Gagrani retires on the same day.
Her appointment has drawn huge attention, not only for its symbolic importance but also because it comes after civic elections held after a gap of four years, in which the BJP came to power for the first time with the support of the Shiv Sena.
As Ashwini Bhide moves into her new role, Lokesh Chandra, MD, Mahavitaran, will take on the responsibility of CMO. However, Bhide will continue to take additional responsibility from Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation.
Who is Ashwini Bhide?
Ashwini Bhide, a 1995 batch IAS officer, is widely known in Mumbai’s administrative and infrastructure circles as the ‘Mumbai Metro Woman’. The moniker stems from her role in leading the ambitious Mumbai Metro 3 project, also known as Aqua Line, HT had earlier reported.
Read also | Who is Ashwini Bhide? The ‘Metro Woman’ became the first female commissioner of BMC
Bhide is currently serving as Additional Principal Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office (CMO), and has earned a reputation for handling complex and high-risk assignments. Along with her CMO responsibilities, she continues to lead the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC), overseeing the ongoing expansion work of the metro.
She began her ministry in Kolhapur and continued to serve as CEO of Nagpur and Sindhudurg Zila Dioceses. Over the years, she has also held positions at the Raj Bhavan, served as Additional Commissioner at the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), and worked within the BMC itself.
Bhide’s fame rose sharply during her tenure at the MMRC, particularly while directing the completion of Mumbai Metro Line 3. The project, the city’s first metro corridor connecting Colaba to Sibz, has faced multiple hurdles – from digging complex tunnels under century-old buildings to the politically sensitive issue of land acquisition and resettlement.
One of the most controversial aspects of the project has been the proposed car shed in Aarey Colony, which has drawn strong opposition from environmentalists. The site’s proximity to the Sanjay Gandhi National Park has made it a flashpoint in the debate between infrastructure development and environmental conservation.
The project was put on hold during the Uddhav Thackeray government, before being revived after a change in political leadership in 2022. Soon after, Bhide was brought back to head the MMRC, and played a key role in getting the project back on track.
