MSRTC to Rope in 450 Female Bus Drivers

Indian women are going places. Both literally and figuratively!

The Maharashtra State Transport Minister, Diwakar Raote, announced that the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) will engage 450 female bus drivers. This announcement was made at the foundation day function of the undertaking on Thursday.

Confirming the news, Diwakar Raote told TOI, "After women pilots in airlines, Metro and railways, you will soon see women driving state transport buses for the first time in the country.

It has been reported that a lot of women drivers have already applied for the job. The recruitment, however, hasn't started.

Read Also: Govt proposal to Ola and Uber-Hire More women drivers

According to the plan proposed, the women drivers will start plying on shorter routes initially. Once they become adept at their job, they will be asked to ply AC buses on long-distance routes.

While MSRTC already has women working as conductors on some of the routes, it will be for the first time that they will work as bus drivers.

The authorities have also introduced two high-tech Shivshahi buses into the fleet.

“The buses have a host of amenities from reclining comfortable chairs, to charging facility for mobile and laptops to CCTV camera and even screen for every passenger. We are also planning to provide WiFi services soon,” said a senior MSRTC official.

It is heartening to see authorities taking some really concrete measures to help women take charge of public spaces to make them safer for other women.

Besides Mumbai, Delhi Transport Communication last year took the affirmative step of hiring more women as bus drivers. The announcement shows the women's potential in general to drive heavy-duty public transport buses.

Read Also: DTC looks at hiring more women drivers