- North India’s first fully women-managed railway station
- Operated by a 34-member all-women workforce
- Led by Station Superintendent Varsha Srivastava
Lucknow City Railway Station, situated in the Wazirganj area of Uttar Pradesh’s capital, has become North India’s first railway station to be operated entirely by women. A 34-member all-women workforce now oversees every operational function, marking a historic milestone for Indian Railways in its efforts to advance women’s representation in public infrastructure roles.
The initiative is led by Station Superintendent Varsha Srivastava, who heads a team responsible for ticketing, train ticket examinations, security through the Railway Protection Force (RPF), inquiries, signaling, points operation, catering, and management of passenger amenities such as waiting rooms. According to officials, a trial run commenced on September 27 to ensure a smooth transition before the station was formally declared fully women-operated on October 17, timed just ahead of Dhanteras. Divisional Railway Manager Gaurav Agarwal affirmed that the inauguration was purposefully aligned with the Diwali season, symbolizing the celebration of feminine power, or Matri Shakti.
The station currently handles 14 pairs of express and mail trains across key routes, including Gomtinagar–Mumbai, Barauni–Lucknow, Gorakhpur–Hyderabad, and Varanasi City–Lucknow Junction. It has additionally been selected under the Amrit Bharat Railway Station Scheme, ensuring future upgrades and enhanced passenger facilities.
This transition positions Lucknow City Railway Station alongside Mumbai’s Matunga station, which became India’s first women-managed station in 2017.
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