- Women loco pilots will drive Pune Metro's future Line 3 between Shivajinagar and Hinjewadi
- French mobility company Keolis won a 10-year concession to operate the corridor
- The move has been characterized by authorities as a step of unprecedent measure in India
Women loco pilots will drive Pune Metro's future Line 3 along Shivajinagar and Hinjewadi, French mobility operator Keolis said in a statement announcing it has entered into a 10-year concession agreement to operate the corridor.
As part of the program, a minimum of 100 women will be hired and trained for the job. The move has been termed as the first in India by officials. The contract was given by Pune IT City Metro Rail Limited (PITCMRL), a Tata-Siemens joint venture and the project concessionaire.
PITCMRL, which has been granted a 35-year concession for the PPP-based Line 3 project, confirmed the alliance with Keolis.
The firm currently operates Hyderabad Metro and will mobilise operations and look after 22 Alstom-supplied trains, 23 stations, and the ticketing system for Line 3. Close to 1,000 staff are set to be employed under this framework.
"Employing women loco pilots is not merely about driving trains but also about getting more women into professions that used to be unusual," Anil Kumar Saini, CEO of PITCMRL, said.
Keolis further added that the women would be undergoing continued training and care, with initiatives to ensure safety and secure commuting.
Line 3, which would connect Shivajinagar to Mann, is likely to cut down travel time between the city center and Hinjewadi, a large IT center housing more than 1.5 lakh professionals. Officials also expect the project to decongest traffic and boost economic activity on the corridor.
Services for Line 3 are planned to start by March 2026, with trial runs already in progress on some parts. Pune Metro Lines 1 and 2 run currently under Maha Metro, with Line 3 being the city's first public-private partnership venture. A Line 4 connecting Khadakwasla to Kharadi via Hadapsar has also been put forward.
