Trial runs a success, Pune Metro’s all-women loco pilot team gear up to helm Line 3 next year

“This is not just about running trains–it is about inspiring the next generation of women to step into roles that were once seen as unconventional. Our women train pilots symbolise resilience, discipline and progress. They are setting a powerful example for Pune and for the nation,” Anil Kumar Saini, CEO of Pune IT City Metro Rail Limited (PITCMRL), said.

The PITCMRL consortium is executing the 23 km elevated Metro Line 3 from Hinjewadi to Shivajinagar for Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) and has awarded a 10-year contract to French company Keolis, under which all trains will be driven exclusively by women.

The loco pilots have been recruited and trained to operate the Metro by Keolis. “Each pilot is being supported not only with technical expertise but also with special attention to their safety, well-being and long-term integration into the workforce,” a PITCMRL official said.

“Most of them are experienced Metro pilots who served in other Metro rails of the country. All are from the engineering cadre and are being trained to operate the Metro rail of PITCMRL,” the official added.

Pune Metro’s Line 3 project connects the bustling IT hub of Hinjewadi to Shivajinagar, and the decision to entrust its operation to an all-women team reflects PITCMRL’s commitment to inclusivity, diversity and community empowerment, he said.

The Pune Metro Line 3 project is a public-private partnership awarded by the PMRDA to a consortium consisting of Tata Group’s TRIL Urban Transport Private Limited and Siemens Project Ventures GmbH. The project will be developed and operated on a design, build, finance, operate and transfer basis by a special purpose vehicle, PITCMRL, for a concession period of 35 years.