Mumbai, Mar 31 (PTI) Senior IAS officer Ashwini Bhide, who played a key role in developing Mumbai’s metro rail network, on Tuesday became the first woman commissioner of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) which was established more than 150 years ago.

She took charge from senior bureaucrat and outgoing civic commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, who retired on Tuesday, at a ceremony at the BMC headquarters in south Mumbai in the evening.

The Mumbai civic body, set up in 1872, is one of the oldest local self-governing bodies in India and is also the richest municipal corporation, boasting of a Rs 80,952.56 budget in the financial year 2026-27.

The BMC has a rich legacy and heritage of more than 150 years, Bhide told reporters after taking over as the new municipal commissioner.

She said her effort will be to improve public transport safety for women commuters.

Bhide said she will also ensure that the nullah cleaning work in the city is expedited before the onset of monsoon.

Before her current appointment, the 1995-batch IAS officer was the Additional Chief Secretary in the Chief Minister’s Office and has handled many key infrastructure projects.

An official notification said she will also continue holding charge as Managing Director of Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC), where she was instrumental in expansion of the city’s metro network.

Bhide had around 31 years of administrative experience and has held several key positions in Maharashtra during her career.

She has served as Chief Executive Officer of a Zilla Parishad, Additional Divisional Commissioner, Joint Secretary in the Maharashtra government, Additional Metropolitan Commissioner at the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and Secretary of the School Education and Sports Department.

The IAS officer served in the BMC as Additional Municipal Commissioner (Eastern Suburbs) from May 9, 2020 to March 19, 2024, and contributed significantly to the completion of the Mumbai Coastal Road (South) project.

She has received awards from various organisations for her notable work in different roles, officials said.

Additional Municipal Commissioner (Western Suburbs) Vipin Sharma, Additional Municipal Commissioner (City) Ashwini Joshi, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Abhijit Bangar, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Eastern Suburbs) Avinash Dhakane and Deputy Commissioner Prashant Gaikwad were present at the ceremony. PTI VT ND RSY