Mumbai: Senior IAS officer Ashwini Bhide will take charge as the commissioner of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) today. Bhide creates history as she will be the first woman municipal commissioner of India’s financial capital. The decision was made last night during a meeting held between CM Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde over Bhushan Gagrani’s successor, who retires today. Bhide is likely to get a full tenure until 2030.

Bhushan Gagrani Informs Of Bhide Taking Charge

“I am in office today and Ashwini will take charge this afternoon. The official order will be issued in an hour or so, Gagrani served as the BMC chief for two years.

The whispers in the BMC headquarters said that Gagrani was expected to get an extension in his service and will be posted to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO). However, as of today, no such order has been issued. “But I will be in Mumbai,” the retiring commissioner said.

Bhide, a 1995-batch officer, is currently serving as Additional Chief Secretary in the CMO and MMRCL MD. She got recognition as the officer who built Mumbai Metro 3, the city’s first underground metro, despite several hurdles. She is known for her firm, no-nonsense, and result-oriented administrative style, with a strong track record of delivering complex projects.

In the final round of consideration, names like Sanjay Mukherjee and Aseem Gupta were also discussed for the BMC Chief’s post, but Bhide was always the frontrunner due to her experience and administrative style.

Bhide, who has earlier served as the Nagpur Municipal Commissioner, is considered a trusted bureaucrat of CM Devendra Fadnavis and has worked closely with the state leadership in key administrative roles.

Bhide has played a pivotal role in Mumbai’s metro expansion, particularly in executing technically challenging underground projects during her tenure with the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation. Her earlier stint as Additional Municipal Commissioner in the BMC gives her deep insight into the functioning of India’s richest civic body.

As she steps into this crucial role, Bhide will shoulder key responsibilities in a city like Mumbai, from accelerating infrastructure projects to improving sanitation, traffic management, and overall urban governance.

Her appointment is being seen as a significant move for Mumbai, with expectations of tighter administrative discipline and faster execution of critical civic and infrastructure projects.

Mumbai: Shivaji Maharaj Road will now be closed at night because barriers have been erected here so that the citizens do not suffer due to noise and disturbance, while the decibel of the music is within the prescribed limit. Music has not been completely stopped, but barriers have been erected on this music road only at night. Mumbai Dharamveer, Swarajya Kakkar, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Kinari Road Project (South) Sangeet Marg (Melody Road) has not been closed or removed. Therefore, it has been decided to erect barriers on this 500-meter long road at night. Apart from this, regular traffic will continue on this road during the day as well. Apart from this, when the complaints of the residents of the area were verified, it was found that the noise decibel here is within the permissible decibel limit. Various media outlets are publishing and broadcasting news about the Melody Road on Dharmavir, Swarajyarakshak, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Coastal Road Project (South). This is the clarification given by the Municipal Corporation administration in this regard.

A 500-meter-long Melody Road has been constructed on the northern channel of Dharmavir, Swarajyarakshak, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Coastal Road Project (South) on the road leading out of the tunnel. This road has been developed with the aim that the citizens can enjoy the music produced on this road while driving and for entertainment.

However, the local residents had informed the concerned department about the noise generated during the movement of vehicles on this Melody Road. As per the demand of the local residents, it has been ensured that the noise generated on Melody Road is within the permissible decibel limit keeping in mind the possibility of disturbing the residents.

Mumbai: impostor Ashok Kharat has so far sexually assaulted more than 150 women, it has been revealed in the SIT investigation. When the victim was included in the SIT raid, more new revelations have emerged. The SIT has seized his mobile phone during the investigation. Two and a half thousand numbers were found in his mobile phone, which were in code form. Along with this, Ashok Kharat’s property worth crores of rupees has also been identified. New conclusions are also being made in the investigation related to Ashok Kharat. The SIT has also claimed to have collected several pieces of evidence related to sexual abuse in its investigation. The SIT has appealed to the victims of the impostor to file a complaint against Ashok Kharat and their names will be kept confidential. The police have also found important documents related to Ashok Kharat. Several medicine bottles and pills have also been seized from Kharat’s office and hideout. The SIT team is continuously conducting raids. A property belonging to Ashok Kharat was raided in Kond Corner area. During this raid, sexual abuse of more than 150 women has also been revealed and the SIT is also investigating whether he sexually abused the affected women and where the investigation is also underway. Today, the SIT seized medicine bottles during the raid. The SIT reached the above-mentioned hideout with the affected women. A case has been registered against Ashok Kharat in 8 cases of sexual abuse and two financial matters. Two mobile phones of Ashok Kharat have been seized in which the number of an influential person has been fitted as a dummy number. Several bank accounts of Ashok Kharat have also been frozen by the SIT. Other documents including mobile phones, laptops have been seized. The accused has been sent on remand till April 1.