August 1, 2025: Ashwini Bhide, Principal Secretary to the Maharashtra Chief Minister and widely recognised as Mumbai’s “Metro Woman,” emphasised the importance of democratic engagement while executing large-scale infrastructure projects. Speaking at News18 SheShakti 2025 in Mumbai on Thursday, she said that criticism must be viewed constructively, not silenced.
“Criticism is a positive input. I look at it with an open mind, and so does the government. You can’t gag people for criticism. We want so many ambitious projects to happen quickly, and while implementing them, we have to run democratic processes, know what people want, and we need to hear them out,” Bhide said during a session on Leadership in a Metro.
Reflecting on the challenges of Metro Line 3, she noted, “Every section had problems, but we could resolve them amicably by engaging with people and understanding what they wanted to say and making necessary changes. Sometimes when we can’t reach an amicable solution, we go by what the law mandates.”
Bhide, who has helmed projects such as the coastal road, Metro Line 3, Eastern Express Highway, monorail, and elevated roads, said working on Mumbai’s mega projects is both a challenge and an opportunity. “Each learning has taught us something and helps with the next project,” she added.
Her biggest motivation, she said, lies in ensuring the city achieves world-class mobility. “Mumbai is a linear city, and the biggest challenge here is the availability of land. Unless we create a robust global standard of public transport in Mumbai, it’ll be very difficult for Mumbaikars to commute the way they deserve.”
Looking ahead, she said Aqua Line Phase 3 is set for commissioning by September, while over 150 km of Metro and road projects will be completed in the next five years, easing traffic and strengthening Mumbai’s status as India’s financial capital.
Source: News18
