Ashwini Bhide Appointed Mumbai’s First Woman BMC Chief. Who Is She?

Bhide is known for her role in infrastructure development and is widely referred to as the “Metro Woman.” She is considered a trusted aide of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis

Written By : Deepika Bhatt | Updated at : 31 Mar 2026 10:04 AM (IST)

Ashwini Bhide Appointed Mumbai’s First Woman BMC Commissioner Who Is She Ashwini Bhide Appointed Mumbai’s First Woman BMC Chief. Who Is She?

Bhide replaces outgoing commissioner Bhushan Gagrani.

Source : X@AshwiniBhide

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Ashwini Bhide becomes BMC's first woman Municipal Commissioner.
Bhide, known as
She previously served as Principal Secretary in CM's Office.
Her appointment follows discussions with CM and Deputy CM.

Senior IAS officer Ashwini Bhide has been appointed as the new Municipal Commissioner of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), becoming the first woman to hold the post.

Who Is Ashwini Bhide?

Bhide, a 1995-batch IAS officer, is known for her role in infrastructure development and is widely referred to as the “Metro Woman.” She is considered a trusted aide of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and was most recently serving as Additional Chief Secretary in the Chief Minister’s Office.

She replaces outgoing commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, who retired on March 31. Her appointment was finalised after discussions between Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Ashwini Bhide's Administrative Career

Ashwini Bhide began her career in Kolhapur as an Assistant District Collector and later served as Chief Executive Officer of Zilla Parishads in Sindhudurg and Nagpur. Over her nearly three-decade-long career, she has held key positions such as Additional Divisional Commissioner, Joint Secretary to the Governor, and Additional Commissioner at the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority.

She also served as Secretary in the School Education and Sports Department.

In 2015, Bhide was appointed Managing Director of the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation, where she led the development of Metro Line 3 (Aqua Line), earning recognition for her work on the project.

Since December 2024, she had been serving as Principal Secretary in the Chief Minister’s Office before taking charge as BMC Commissioner.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the new Municipal Commissioner of BMC?

Ashwini Bhide, a 1995-batch IAS officer, has been appointed as the new Municipal Commissioner of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

What is Ashwini Bhide known for?

Ashwini Bhide is known for her role in infrastructure development and is widely referred to as the

Who did Ashwini Bhide replace as BMC Commissioner?

She replaces outgoing commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, who retired on March 31.

What was Ashwini Bhide's role before becoming BMC Commissioner?

Before taking charge as BMC Commissioner, Ashwini Bhide was serving as Principal Secretary in the Chief Minister’s Office.

About the author Deepika Bhatt

Deepika Bhatt is a Deputy News Editor at ABP Live English. With a keen eye on national politics and a firm pulse on what city readers crave, she likes breaking one story at a time. She ensures that news stories provide a comprehensive information package.

For any tips and queries, you can reach out to her at deepikab@abpnetwork.com.