Hyderabad: They are the best examples from Hyderabad that there is nothing a woman cannot do. From storming what was for centuries a male bastion in 2017, these women loco pilots of the Hyderabad Metro Rail have proved they can do more than just drive a train.
As celebrations are already on for International Women’s Day, we bring you the story of around 65 women who steer the Hyderabad Metro Rail every day, proving naysayers wrong each day.
Born into a middle-class family in Warangal, Sravani Burra studied Electronics and Communications Engineering. She had plans to become a techie, but they changed as soon as she landed a job with the Metro Rail. It was in 2019 when she first got into the driver’s seat and two years later, she says not a day goes by that she isn’t proud of being in her post.
“I’m grateful. I always believed that a woman can do everything a man can. Yes, it sometimes becomes demanding since my job requires alertness at all times. But it has been a satisfying journey so far,” says the 25-year-old, who does three round trips from Nagole to Raidurg every day.
A typical day of a woman train operator shows how a woman wears many hats, effortlessly. For 24-year-old Pooja Duburka, the day starts at 6 am. She broke the infamous glass ceiling twice. First was when she joined Mechanical Engineering, a hugely male-dominated field and then, by making waves on the Metro tracks. She has logged in over 50,000 km in the last 24 months.
“Some people stare at us as if we are aliens while some cheer us. Initially, many said I will not survive in this field for long. It is common for any woman to face the heat whenever she decides to step into a male bastion. I’m glad that I took this step,” Pooja says.
It was not easy for these women to get selected. Gruelling psychometric tests, research designs, several technical rounds and medical tests later, they had to undergo three months of intense training, including backbreaking sessions on simulators.
“But all the hard work and sacrifices were worth it in the end,” says 23-year-old Priyanka Ereddy. “I love what I do, so I didn’t want to see anything as a difficult task,” she adds.
For Navya Palakurla, 23, the joy in the job is unparalleled. She says commuters are never bored of seeing her in the driver’s cabin and at times she sees parents telling their children how a woman has taken up this profession.
For many, the task of convincing their parents was a challenge. “Initially my parents were apprehensive, but in the end, they respected my decision,” says Pavani Sunkari.
Having been loco pilots this long, these women now want to go on to handle the jobs of a station controller, a depot controller and even a traffic controller.
The Hyderabad Metro Rail has always offered full support, says Kola Sravani. “There are proper systems to ensure the safety of every woman. In case we have an issue, we can raise the grievance to our higher official.”
In a society where women are often ridiculed for their driving skills, Pooja says, “Women are now driving trains, and I am proud to be one among them.”
