Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Mar 31: Senior IAS officer Ashwini Bhide has been appointed as the new Commissioner of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), becoming the first woman to hold the top civic post.

A 1995-batch IAS officer, Bhide is known for her firm and results-driven administrative style. She is widely regarded as a trusted aide of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and previously served as Secretary in the Chief Minister’s Office.

Bhide played a key role in executing Mumbai’s underground metro projects, ensuring timely progress of major infrastructure works. She has also served as Additional Commissioner in the BMC, giving her strong experience in municipal governance.

She is expected to serve a full term until 2030 and will oversee critical areas including infrastructure development, sanitation, traffic management and overall urban administration in Mumbai.

The appointment comes in the backdrop of recent BMC elections held in January 2026, where the Bharatiya Janata Party emerged as the single largest party with 89 seats, while the Shiv Sena had been the largest party in the 2017 polls.

The BMC, established under the Bombay Municipal Corporation Act of 1888, is India’s largest and richest civic body, responsible for essential services such as water supply, waste management, public health, roads, education, disaster management and urban planning.