Who is Ashwini Bhide? BMC’s first woman commissioner in 160 years

MUMBAI: Ashwini Bhide, who played a key role in the construction of the underground Metro in Mumbai, was Tuesday appointed the city’s municipal commissioner, the first woman to head BMC in the history of the over-160-year-old corporation.

The 1995 batch IAS officer retires in 2030, and thus could get a full three-year tenure as chief of the country’s richest civic body. Known as a task master and said to be close to CM Fadnavis, Bhide, who was an additional chief secretary in the CMO, took charge from Bhushan Gagrani Tuesday evening. She forms a triumvirate of women along with mayor Ritu Tawde and Leader of Opposition in the house Kishori Pednekar in BMC.

“I thank the Maharashtra govt for entrusting me with this responsibility. I would also like to congratulate Bhushan Gagrani on his successful tenure at BMC. I joined the civil services inspired by him—he is from Kolhapur and I am from Sangli—so taking over from him is particularly meaningful for me,” said Bhide, who will continue to hold additional charge as MD of Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation.

Ashwini Bhide will be in charge of overseeing a massive budget of over Rs 80,000 crore for the city. Her primary hurdles involve time-bound execution of critical infrastructure works, premonsoon readiness, and longstanding civic issues.

In the run-up to her appointment, a meeting between CM Devendra Fadnavis and deputy CM Eknath Shinde on Monday night is believed to have focused on transfers of senior IAS officers. Fadnavis is said to have backed Bhide’s candidature.

Bhide is recognized for spearheading major infrastructure projects such as the underground metro. As additional municipal commissioner, she played a crucial role in implementing the Mumbai Coastal Road project as well.

Speaking to the media after her appointment, Bhide addressed concerns over monsoon preparedness. She said she would soon review desilting work carried out each year before monsoons.

“I will review the work and ensure it is completed at the earliest,” she said. When asked if she could assure that the city would not flood in the rains, she expressed confidence in ongoing efforts. “I’ve spent four crucial years in BMC, including during the challenging Covid period, which has been an invaluable experience...I look forward to navigating new challenges with my team and building on the work of my predecessors,” she said.

With BJP now governing BMC in alliance with the Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the opposition led by Shiv Sena (UBT) also represented by a significant number of corporators, Bhide will have to do a fair amount of political management through communication and outreach.

She will have to tackle fiscal challenges and manage cash flows, specially since capital expenditure now accounts for around 60% of the total budget.

Bhide said she is well-acquainted with the functioning of the civic body and its workforce. “I am familiar with how BMC operates and the people who drive it,” she said.

On working with elected representatives, Bhide said collaboration is integral to governance. “Even in govt roles, we work closely with elected representatives. While the city has been under administrative rule for an extended period, I have prior experience working with corporators, including during the 2020-2022 Covid phase when meetings continued despite challenges,” she said.

IAS officer Lokesh Chandra who was chairman and MD of MSEDCL replaces Bhide as additional chief secretary in the CMO.

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