Sameer B. Unhale is a distinguished civil servant serving as the State Joint Commissioner in the Directorate of Municipal Administration under the Government of Maharashtra, where his career has been defined by more than 28 years of dedicated service in urban governance, policy, and city development. In his current role, he plays a key leadership role supporting municipal councils and corporations across the state, advising on policy implementation, administrative coordination, capacity building, and the effective translation of state and central schemes into tangible outcomes for cities and towns. His responsibilities span infrastructure, sanitation, urban livelihood, governance reform, and the scaling of digital and smart city solutions — all aligned to foster inclusive, resilient, and livable urban communities.

Throughout his tenure with the Maharashtra Government, Sameer Unhale has worked across multiple capacities that integrate public policy thinking with ground execution. He has driven initiatives focusing on urban infrastructure delivery, poverty alleviation through urban employment schemes, sanitation improvement, and the adoption of technology to enhance municipal service delivery and accountability. His extensive experience includes roles such as Municipal Commissioner and CEO of Smart City entities, where he was responsible for steering city-level planning and implementation under national missions like AMRUT and Smart Cities Mission, and leveraging public policy, community engagement, and digital innovations to drive sustainable urban development.

A thought leader and urban practitioner, Unhale regularly contributes to national platforms, webinars, and policy dialogues on smart cities, urban governance, and municipal reforms. He has also engaged with civil society and research institutions as a Visiting Senior Fellow, bringing practitioner insights into academic and policy forums. His published works, including #CityReflections: A Practitioner’s Experience in Urban Governance amidst Uncertain Times, underline his reflective approach to strategic urban challenges and the future of Indian cities.

In every role he has undertaken, Sameer Unhale champions a mission of transforming urban administration through innovation, inclusivity, and collaborative governance, reinforcing Maharashtra’s efforts to build efficient, citizen-centric, and future-ready cities that can meet the evolving aspirations of their residents.