Namma Metro’s women drivers revel in their job, inspire public admiration

Bangalore: Namma Metro has changed commuting in the city in the three years it's been up and running. It's also brought down another bastion of male domination. The nine women loco pilots at the switches on its two routes have inspired admiration among commuters, who seek them out to snap selfies too. On the Metro's third anniversary, TOI speaks to three women loco pilots and life in the fast lane. 'I enjoy the challenge' "There was a time when I didn't know how to buy a token and take a ride on the Metro. But now, when I enter a station and people look at me with amazement, I feel the role reversal. I was there one day and I'm here today. Now I know each and every component of the train. I enjoy the challenge and adventure of my job and yes, the feeling of being admired for it," says Prabodha D, all of 26. Prabodha completed her diploma in mechanical instrumentation and joined the undergraduate programme in mechanical engineering. She had, in the meantime, applied for the job in 2011 and for two years, didn't get a reply whether she was selected or not. A sudden surprise in the form of an offer letter as a loco pilot with BMRCL, landed in May 2013. A resident of KG Halli, Prabodha's father is a principal in a private school and her mother a teacher. Prabodha had never wanted to follow in their career path. Having steered the train on elevated tracks, Prabodha is now looking at underground operations. "I'm looking forward to driving through the tunnel 60 feet under," she says. 'People trust me to ferry them safely' One of the first women loco pilots to have driven the media on the inaugural day on October 20, 2011, Rashmi G, 28, says she can't believe it's been three years since she started ferrying people on Namma Metro. Ask her how it feels to be at the wheel, and Rashmi shoots back: "You should tell me whether you feel nervous seeing a woman steering the train." "I joined on July 23, 2010, four months after I got married. I went to Delhi for the initial training. I did miss my husband during those days. I returned and did so many trial runs in Bangalore that on the day of the launch, there were no butterflies in my tummy," says Rashmi, who says she's never panicked on duty. "My sense of responsibility only increases when I see a crowded train. I realize so many people have trusted me to ferry them safely," the diploma engineer says. The icing on the cake is when she disembarks from the train and commuters rush to her. "Even now, people want to take selfies with me," she blushes. 'It gives an adrenaline high' Her mother wanted her to hold a good official position. But not in her wildest dreams did she think that Deepa L, 25, would be a Metro train driver. Neither did Deepa. Her mother has no objections, and believes Deepa she's is at the right place in the plush, AC pilot's coach, taking enormous care to ensure a safe ride for thousands of commuters every day. "I saw the advertisement for this job on the last day to submit applications. We've seen the typical Indian train engine, I simply thought of taking up the challenge to drive the Metro. I got placed here while completing my engineering in electronics and communications. But till July 23, 2010, I didn't know what the Metro train looked like. Sitting in the compact cabin of a superfast train was just awesome," she told TOI. She worked as station controller of Halasuru station to begin with, and the Operations and Control Centre in Byappanahalli depot, managing the entire traffic between MG Road and Byappanahalli. Now she drives the train too. "The job gives an adrenalin rush but is also very stressful. But once you get off the train, you take no worries home. Instead, there's only a good feeling that I've ferried so many people safely. The feeling of people clicking my photo when I steer the train into the station excites me, and brings me back here day after day," Deepa says. -TOI