All-Women Crew Aboard Basava Express On International Women's Day

All-Women Crew Basava Express: The Krantivira Sangolli Rayanna (KSR) railway station in Bengaluru City made the statement that the Basava Express (consisting of two trains) had an all-women crew.

This move was a part of the South Western Railways (SWR) celebration of International Women’s Day. The train was flagged off by women guards and a banner in front of the engine proclaimed “Empowering Women in Indian Railways”.

The train reached the KSR station at 10:40 PM and the crew was changed. The crew comprised of 20 women and consisted of a Loco Pilot, an Assistant Loco Pilot, seven Ticket Examiners, Railway Protection Force and the staff of the Carriage and Works department. The passengers on board were offered roses by the railway staff.

The honour of flagging off the Basava Express was also done by women. Additional Divisional Railway Manager Kusuma Hariprasad, Debashmita Chattopadhyay Banerjee, and Senior Divisional Security Commissioner and Divisional Personnel Manager S. Uma flagged off the train using a traditional green flag.

The Loco Pilot Sireesha, Assistant Loco Pilot Mubaraka and guard Richa Tripathi were congratulated by the passengers. The passengers also asked to take selfies with the women. Mubaraka stated that “It was really a wonderful feeling to be given this honour. I urge more women to enter this profession like us.” The guard Tripathi said that “"I feel excited to be part of this all-women team. I am one of the two guards in the Bengaluru Division and I love my job."

The passengers on board also had positive reactions and K N Poojitha said that “We should not be surprised at women doing well. Women are really very strong and work much more than men. Working women manage to do both.” Another passenger Mahesh Kulkarni stated that "Women have literally stormed every field. I am extremely happy to be on board this special train."