MUMBAI, March 24 -- With municipal commissioner Bhushan Gagrani set to retire at the end of March, the state government has begun the process of identifying his successor. At the same time, sources in the state bureaucracy said efforts are underway to extend Gagrani's term. Gagrani took charge as commissioner of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on March 22, 2024. He officiated as administrator of the BMC for most of his tenure as the civic body did not have an elected general body. Among the frontrunners for the role, additional chief secretary in the chief minister's office Ashwini Bhide is said to be leading the race. A 1995-batch IAS officer, Bhide has handled key infrastructure projects, including the Metro 3 corridor and the BMC's coastal road. Other names under consideration include additional chief secretary (urban development department-1) Aseem Gupta, additional chief secretary (revenue) Vikas Kharge, and Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) commissioner Sanjay Mukherjee. The Bharatiya Janata Party has repeatedly emphasised its commitment to improving governance in the BMC, with infrastructure remaining a key focus area for chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. Sources said that Fadnavis and his deputy Eknath Shinde are yet to meet to finalise Gagrani's successor. Meanwhile, attempts are being made to seek an extension for Gagrani's term. However, rules do not provide for extensions for municipal commissioners and such approvals can typically be granted by the Centre only in the case of chief secretaries. Recently, only one civic chief, Subodh Kumar, received an extension for three months in 2012 to oversee BMC elections. The then chief minister Prithviraj Chavan had pushed for the move, but the Centre approved only a three-month extension. The Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC) commissioner Manoj Suryawanshi is also set to retire at the end of the month. A nominated IAS officer is expected to take charge....