Ashwini Bhide becomes the first woman commissioner of Mumbai corporation

Ashwini Bhide is appointed as Mumbai's first female Municipal Commissioner, marking a historic milestone for the city's governance.

The Maharashtra Government on Tuesday (March 31, 2026) appointed senior IAS officer Ashwini Bhide as the Municipal Commissioner of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), making her the first woman to head one of the oldest and richest civic bodies in the country.

Incumbent Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, who completed his tenure on Tuesday (March 31), handed over charge to Ms. Bhide, who will be replaced by IAS officer Lokesh Chandra in her previous post as Additional Chief Secretary in the Chief Minister’s Office.

“I will ensure to deliver quality work and take forward the good work of my predecessors,” Ms. Bhide said on Tuesday (March 31), adding that efforts will be made to increase accessibility for women. “All the services are for the citizens, the transport system has been effective for women; however, we will work to increase the accessibility and safety,” she said.  

Ms. Bhide expressed gratitude for the appointment, saying, “I entered civil services following the footsteps of Mr. Gagrani. I am extremely glad to accept this post as I have worked as an additional commissioner in this institute, which is 150 years old and has a rich heritage. 

With her appointment, the 1995-batch IAS officer will be making decisions on issues concerning several high-stakes urban challenges, including infrastructure projects and pre-monsoon preparations, with an annual budget of over ₹80,000 crore.