Pune: When 27-year-old Vidya Bhure told her parents she wanted to become a loco pilot for Pune Metro Line 3, they were sceptical. “They asked me whether I would be able to do it. I told them I wanted to,” recalled the engineering graduate from Pendhari village in Nagpur district.
Today, as one of 90 women certified to operate trains on the Shivajinagar-Hinjewadi Metro corridor, she proudly sends them photographs in uniform. “Seeing the pride on their faces gives me immense joy,” she said.
Bhure is among the group that has completed training and secured competency certification as loco pilots for Metro Line 3. The initiative aims to deploy 100 women loco pilots on the corridor and has also inducted nine women supervisors into the operations team, officials from PITCMRL told TOI.
For 22-year-old Nikita Gujar from Amravati district, the journey involved overcoming social and financial challenges. As the eldest daughter in a farming family, she often faced questions about marriage. “Today, those same people are proud and appreciate me,” she said. She added with confidence, “The six months of training have transformed me completely. I know the responsibility that comes with this job and I am excited for it.”
After completing her engineering, Bhure moved to Pune for a back-office job before coming across this recruitment drive. She cleared the selection process and underwent months of specialised training with the other women. “This profession has given me confidence. I understand the responsibility of operating a Metro train and I am ready,” she said.
Gujar, a former Navodaya Vidyalaya student, worked part-time while pursuing higher education in Pune and helped support her family. Following multiple rounds of selection, she completed the training programme and earned certification. “The last few months transformed me personally and professionally. It feels rewarding to have chosen a different path,” said the eldest of three sisters, who supports her two younger siblings.
For 24-year-old Sakshi Bhosale from Pimpri Chinchwad, the opportunity came through campus recruitment after studying electronics and telecommunications engineering. “I knew nothing about train operations when I joined,” she said. After completing training and gaining extensive operational exposure, she now feels prepared for the role. “More women should consider this profession,” she added.
Engineer Vidya Garajpure (24), another trainee loco pilot, said, “The programme had equipped participants with the skills and confidence required for the job.”
Officials of Pune IT City Metro Rail Limited (PITCMRL) said all 90 women loco pilots were recruited through campus drives and trained by French mobility operator Keolis, which has secured the contract to operate Metro Line 3. The trainees underwent classroom instruction and onboard practical training under industry experts before being assessed for competency certification.
The operator will be responsible for running and maintaining Metro Line 3’s trains, 23 stations and ticketing systems. Nearly 1,000 personnel are expected to be employed for operations and maintenance.
