A new generation of women is helping power India’s modern transit system by operating the country’s semi-high-speed Namo Bharat trains. Several young women, including Shivani, Priyanka Awasthi, Isha Dheerwan and Kanchan, are among the operators driving trains on the Delhi–Ghaziabad–Meerut RRTS.
Many of them come from modest backgrounds in Uttar Pradesh and have overcome social and professional barriers to take up roles in one of India’s most advanced public transport systems. Shivani, a 24-year-old from Bareilly and the daughter of a farmer, now drives the high-speed trains despite never having driven a car or scooter before joining the programme.
The Namo Bharat system is designed for a top speed of around 180 kmph and an operational speed of 160 kmph, enabling rapid travel between Delhi and Meerut.
Women now account for nearly 30% of the operational workforce on the corridor, reflecting a broader shift toward greater gender inclusion in India’s infrastructure and transport sectors.
Their journeys symbolize changing social norms, as women increasingly step into highly technical roles while helping operate one of the country’s most advanced rail networks.
