VADODARA: Manish Bhardwaj, IAS, took charge as Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) commissioner on Thursday. Bhardwaj was earlier Junagadh collector and was transferred to the city in the recent reshuffle.

Bhardwaj arrived at VMC headquarters in Khanderao Market on Thursday morning to take charge. He held a meeting with senior officers of VMC on the first day of his visit.

Bhardwaj met all deputy municipal commissioners, city engineer, executive engineers and other officials soon after assuming charge.

Later in the day, he called upon the mayor and deputy mayor.

Bhardwaj is a 1997 batch IAS officer and holds a degree in M Tech from the Indian Institute of Technology (Delhi). He earlier worked as assistant collector in Banaskantha, additional commissioner of sales tax, district development officer at Bharuch and Jamnagar, director in the labour and employment department, director of technical education, Junagadh collector and has also rendered services as the director of census operations.

Bhardwaj replaces Ashwini Kumar who has been transferred to the post of managing director of Gujarat Urban Development Corporation Ltd.