{{Short description|Indian IAS officer}} {{about|the IAS officer|the Hindustani classical musician|Ashwini Bhide-Deshpande}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2025}} {{Use Indian English|date=July 2025}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Ashwini Bhide | image = Ms Ashwini Bhide, IAS.jpg | caption = Ashwini Bhide in 2019 | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1970|05|25|df=y}}<ref name="biodata">{{cite web |title=Biodata of Ms Ashwini Satish Bhide |url=https://supremo.nic.in/ERSheetHtml.aspx?OffIDErhtml=15663&PageId= |website=Single User platform Related To Employees Online (SUPREMO) |publisher=Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions |accessdate=19 August 2020}}</ref> | birth_place = Sangli, Maharashtra, India | office = Municipal Commissioner, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation<ref>{{cite web |title=‘Metro Woman’ becomes BMC’s first female commissioner|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/who-is-ashwini-bhide-metro-woman-bmcs-first-female-commissioner-101774934968432.html}}</ref> | term_start = 31 March 2026 | term_end =
| office2 = Additional Chief Secretary, Chief Minister Office<ref>{{cite web |title=Mumbai Metro MD Ashwini Bhide is principal secretary to Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/mumbai-metro-md-ashwini-bhide-is-principal-secretary-to-maharashtra-cm-devendra-fadnavis/articleshow/116321131.cms}}</ref> | term_start2 = 31 March 2026 | term_end2 = | predecessor = | successor = | office3 = Managing Director of Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation | term_start3 = 5 January 2015<ref>{{cite news |title=Mumbai Metro MD Ashwini Bhide who took on Thackerays out {{!}} Mumbai News - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/mumbai-metro-md-ashwini-bhide-who-took-on-thackerays-out/articleshow/73510672.cms |accessdate=19 August 2020 |work=The Times of India |date=22 January 2020 |language=en}}</ref> | term_end3 = 22 January 2020 | predecesso3 = | successor3 = Ranjit Singh Deol | office4 = Secretary School Education and Sports, Government of Maharashtra | term_start4 = February 2014 | term_end4 = January 2015 | office5 = Additional Metropolitan Commissioner of Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority | term_start5 = September 2008 | term_end5 = February 2014 }}
'''Ashwini Bhide''' is an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, predominantly known for her work on the Aqua Line, popularly known as Line 3 of the Mumbai Metro. She is Managing Director of Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRCL), which is a joint venture of the Government of India and Government of Maharashtra since its inception, i.e. 2015 until 2020.<ref name="fearless">{{cite news |author1=Haima Deshpande |title=Fearless, efficient IAS officer Ashwini Bhide moved out of Mumbai Metro in 'routine' change |url=https://theprint.in/india/governance/fearless-efficient-ias-officer-ashwini-bhide-moved-out-of-mumbai-metro-in-routine-change/352970/ |accessdate=19 August 2020 |work=ThePrint |date=22 January 2020}}</ref><ref name="startby">{{cite news |author1=Sanjay Jog |title=Mumbai Metro III work will start by 2016: Ashwini Bhide |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/work-on-mumbai-metro-iii-will-start-in-early-2016-ashwini-bhide-115033100108_1.html |accessdate=19 August 2020 |work=Business Standard India |date=4 April 2015}}</ref>
In January 2020, she along with 20 others IAS officers from Maharashtra state were transferred by the newly formed coalition government led by Uddhav Thackeray.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mumbai Metro chief Ashwini Bhide among 20 IAS officers transferred in Maharashtra |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/20-ias-officers-moved-metro-body-chief-heading-city-s-underground-line-transferred/story-DMlwLG8PyDxYcXFYMj2r8L.html |accessdate=19 August 2020 |work=Hindustan Times |date=22 January 2020 |language=en}}</ref> Prior to the new government coming in force, Aaditya Thackeray, whose party Shiv Sena was a member of the earlier Devendra Fadnavis-led government in the state, had demanded the transfer of Bhide citing differences in interest on construction of metro car shed at Aarey Milk Colony.<ref>{{cite news |title=Aarey Metro row: Aditya Thackeray demands MMRCL MD Ashwini Bhide's transfer, claims corporation is against Mumbai citizens |url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/aarey-metro-row-aditya-thackeray-demands-mmrcl-md-ashwini-bhides-transfer-claims-corporation-is-against-mumbai-citizens-7320531.html |accessdate=19 August 2020 |work=Firstpost |agency=Press Trust of India |date=11 September 2019}}</ref>
Bhide was named 'Woman Leader of the Year – Governance' at the ETPrime Women Leadership Awards in 2023.<ref>{{cite web |title=ETPrime Women Leadership Awards 2023 |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/spotlight/etpwla2023 |website=The Economic Times |language=en}}</ref>
== Career == Bhide started her career as the assistant collector of the Kolhapur district from 1997 to 1999. Following this, she was posted as the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Sindhudurg district from 1999 to 2000 following which she was transferred to the Nagpur district.<ref name="biodata" />
Bhide was appointed the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Nagpur Zilla Parishad between 2000 and 2003 where she built 434 dams across 310 villages at a cost of ₹300,000 to bring 7,000 hectares of land under irrigation.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Radhika |first1=V |title=They inspired villagers to harvest water |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020825/spectrum/main3.htm |accessdate=19 August 2020 |work=The Sunday Tribune |date=25 August 2002}}</ref> Between 2004 and 2008, she was appointed as deputy secretary to the Governor of Maharashtra following which she was appointed as Additional Metropolitan Commissioner at the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).<ref name="Indian Express">{{cite news |last1=Sheikh |first1=Zeeshan |last2=Ashar |first2=Sandeep |title=Ashwini Bhide: The woman at the wheel |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/ashwini-bhide-mumbai-mmrcl-manager-the-woman-at-the-wheel-6235445/ |accessdate=19 August 2020 |work=The Indian Express |date=26 January 2020 |language=en}}</ref> She also served as School Education and Sports Secretary and was instrumental in bringing the Systematic Administrative Reforms for Achieving Learning by Students (SARAL) database online.<ref>{{cite news |title=Soon, get school, student info from online SARAL database {{!}} Kolhapur News - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolhapur/Soon-get-school-student-info-from-online-SARAL-database/articleshow/47981320.cms |accessdate=19 August 2020 |work=The Times of India |date=8 July 2015 |language=en}}</ref>
During her tenure at the MMRDA, she was seen as the driving force for several big ticket projects including the Eastern Freeway,<ref>{{cite news |title=Rs 847-cr eastern freeway road project in Mumbai to be ready by December |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/logistics/Rs-847-cr-eastern-freeway-road-project-in-Mumbai-to-be-ready-by-December/article20436556.ece |accessdate=20 August 2020 |work=Hindu Business |date=22 May 2012 |language=en}}</ref> Sahar Elevated Access Road,<ref name="sahar">{{cite news |author1=Ateeq Shaikh |title=Opening of Sahar elevated road to Terminal 2 likely on February 11 |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-opening-of-sahar-elevated-road-to-terminal-2-likely-on-february-11-1959744 |accessdate=20 August 2020 |work=DNA India |date=6 February 2014}}</ref> Mithi River cleanup which involved rehabilitation of over 4000 affected projected affected people,<ref>{{cite news |author1=Chittaranjan Tembhekar |title=Mithi will not flood: Maharashtra chief secretary {{!}} Mumbai News - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Mithi-will-not-flood-Maharashtra-chief-secretary/articleshow/20352853.cms?from=mdr |accessdate=20 August 2020 |work=The Times of India |date=30 May 2013}}</ref> the Mumbai Monorail<ref>{{cite news |author1=Rahul Wadke |title=Mumbai monorail first phase to be ready soon |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/mumbai-monorail-first-phase-to-be-ready-soon/article22984206.ece |accessdate=20 August 2020 |work=Hindu Business |date=28 January 2014 |language=en}}</ref> and the first line<ref>{{cite news |title=MMRDA offers tenements to Sarvodaya Staff Quarter residents at Govandi |url=https://www.indiainfoline.com/article/news-business/mmrda-offers-tenements-to-sarvodaya-staff-quarter-residents-at-govandi-113101001958_1.html |accessdate=20 August 2020 |work=India Infoline |date=13 April 2010 |language=en}}</ref> of the Mumbai Metro.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ashraf |first1=Syed Firdaus |title=The woman who will change the face of Mumbai |url=https://www.rediff.com/news/special/the-woman-who-will-change-the-face-of-mumbai-/20151110.htm |accessdate=19 August 2020 |work=Rediff |date=10 November 2015 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Indian Express"/> Her work in the rehabilitation of 5,000 people across the city for various infrastructure projects has been considered a case study.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pate |first1=Neil |title=DNA Mumbai Anniversary: Meet IAS officer Ashwini Bhide who has shattered many glass ceiling with her intellect |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-dna-mumbai-anniversary-meet-ias-officer-ashwini-bhide-who-has-shattered-many-glass-ceiling-with-her-intellect-2642523 |accessdate=19 August 2020 |work=DNA India |date=28 July 2018 |language=en}}</ref>
In March 2020, Bhide, who was till then not assigned a role post her exit from the MMRC, was deputed to the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) taskforce as an Additional Municipal Commissioner to combat the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in Maharashtra.<ref>{{cite news |title=IAS officers 'on waiting' now part of Covid-19 task force |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/ias-officers-on-waiting-now-part-of-covid-19-task-force/story-pdZRMXyxsS1PU832m4N4mI.html |accessdate=19 August 2020 |work=Hindustan Times |date=30 March 2020 |language=en}}</ref> Bhide has been tasked with overseeing the Corporation's contact tracing efforts as well as to monitor the control room and provide assistance to hospitals.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mumbai: CM ropes in 3 senior IAS officers for BMC's covid-19 preparedness - ET Government |url=https://government.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/governance/mumbai-cm-ropes-3-senior-ias-officers-for-bmcs-covid-19-preparedness/75078855 |accessdate=19 August 2020 |work=Economic Times |date=10 April 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
=== Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation === Bhide was appointed as the managing director of MMRC in 2015.{{fact|date=July 2025}}
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Indian civil servants}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bhide, Ashwini}} Category:Indian Administrative Service officers Category:1970 births Category:COVID-19 pandemic in India Category:Living people Category:People from Sangli