After assuming the role of chief minister, Devendra Fadnavis has begun strengthening his team by appointing trusted and capable bureaucrats to key positions. Ashwini Bhide, known for her significant contributions to key infrastructure projects, has been appointed as the Principal Secretary to the CMO.
Bhide, who previously served as the managing director of the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC), is credited with the successful implementation of the Mumbai Metro Line 3 (Colaba-Bandra-Seepz line) and the Mumbai Coastal Road project as additional commissioner of the BMC. Her new appointment comes as a replacement for Brijesh Singh, the current Principal Secretary. According to her appointment letter, Bhide will assume her new duties at the CMO immediately while continuing her role as MD of Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation.
A 1995-batch IAS officer with nearly 30 years of experience, Bhide has earned a reputation as a pioneer in metro rail development and is often referred to as the “Metro Rail Woman.”
Bhide was removed from the post of managing director of the MMRC and transferred as the additional municipal commissioner in the BMC in 2020 by the Uddhav Thackeray-led government, after she fought to implement the Aarey project. The MVA government had stayed the construction of the Metro3 crashed project being developed in the Aarey Colony citing protection of forest cover there.
Bhide’s defence of the metro shed had drawn flak from activists as well as political parties.
After the Eknath Shinde-led Mahayuti was formed in June 2022, Bhide was transferred again as the MD of MMRC assigned the job of completion of Metro 3 project.
In addition to this reshuffle, Fadnavis recently held a review meeting with senior government officials, including the Chief Secretary, to strategise on making Maharashtra the top state in India. He instructed officials to set up dedicated war rooms for the state’s flagship and infrastructure projects, with Bhide expected to oversee the infrastructure project war room.
