Ashwini Bhide has been appointed as the commissioner of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), becoming the first woman to head the country’s richest civic body, succeeding Bhushan Gagrani who retired the same day. Her appointment comes after civic elections held following a four-year gap, in which the Bharatiya Janata Party assumed power for the first time with support from the Shiv Sena. Meanwhile, Lokesh Chandra, CMD of Mahavitaran, will take charge at the CMO, while Bhide will continue to hold additional charge of the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation.
A 1995-batch IAS officer, Ashwini Bhide is widely known in Mumbai’s administrative and infrastructure circles as the “Metro Woman of Mumbai,” a title earned for her key role in driving the ambitious Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation’s Metro Line 3, or Aqua Line project. Currently serving as additional chief secretary in the CMO, she has built a strong reputation for handling complex and high-profile assignments, while continuing to lead the MMRC and oversee ongoing metro expansion work.
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Ashwini Bhide’s Career Journey and Rise as an Infrastructure Leader
Ashwini Bhide began her career in Kolhapur and later served as CEO of zilla parishads in Nagpur and Sindhudurg, besides holding roles at Raj Bhavan, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. She gained prominence at the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation while leading Mumbai Metro Line 3, navigating challenges such as complex tunnelling and land acquisition. Her work on the project significantly boosted her reputation as a capable infrastructure administrator.
One of the most controversial aspects of the project was the proposed car shed at Aarey Colony, which drew strong opposition from environmentalists due to its proximity to Sanjay Gandhi National Park, turning it into a major flashpoint between development and conservation concerns. The project was halted during the Uddhav Thackeray-led government but was revived after a change in leadership in 2022, following which Ashwini Bhide was reappointed to head the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation and played a crucial role in getting it back on track.
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