Dinesh Waghmare, a 1994 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, started his career as an assistant collector in the Land Revenue Management Department, Ratnagiri, in 1996. In his career spanning over 20 years, Waghmare has worked in a number of departments ranging from land revenue management to rural development. For a brief spell, he also held the position of additional commissioner, Social Justice and Empowerment, Tribal Welfare Department, Nagpur.
Former managing director of Maharashtra Agro Industries Development Corporation Limited, Waghmare is now commissioner of the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation and is actively involved in augmenting the capacity of the civic agency.
Commenting upon the targets before him, Waghmare remarks, “The target would be to complete ongoing projects and streamline the processes while strengthening corporation’s financials.” Under his leadership, the corporation has been successful in inaugurating a number of civil hospitals across the city. This has been possible due to the efficient management strategies of the commissioner. “I always try and remain neutral while dealing with interdepartmental issues. I expect my department heads to communicate with each other and work in tandem,” he says. Waghmare is also on the board of directors of City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Limited. In the past, he has also held the position of divisional commissioner of Amravati.
As a civil servant one needs to work with politicians, past and present corporators, other civic officials, local staff and citizens. Every leader has certain unique capabilities and so does he. Waghmare says, “Being pragmatic and practical while looking at things have been my main strengths. Further, a strong bond with my colleagues has been an additional positive.” He believes that a calm and composed demeanour along with careful planning can help overcome any situation. “Every day is a new challenge and each day brings along new solutions,” he says.
Waghmare has an engineering degree in electronics as well as an M.Tech. in computer science from IIT Kharagpur. Besides, he has also participated in a number of training programmes that are conducted for IAS officers such as those for negotiating strategies and public-private partnerships, infrastructure finance, etc.