Synopsis
In a remarkable achievement, women loco pilots in India have seen a near five-fold increase over the last decade, significantly impacting workforce diversity in the railways. Currently, there are 1,828 women loco pilots, with many emerging from states like Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu. This shift reflects a broader movement toward gender equality in the workforce.Key Takeaways
- Women loco pilots have increased to 1,828 from 371 in 10 years.
- Uttar Pradesh leads with the highest number of women loco pilots.
- Women now represent 8.2% of the Indian Railways workforce.
- Indian Railways aims for 100% electrification by 2025-26.
- Renewable energy partnerships are expanding in Indian Railways.
New Delhi, March 8 (NationPress) In a remarkable achievement, the number of women loco pilots operating trains in India has surged nearly five-fold over the last decade, thereby fostering progress and challenging stereotypes.
As per official statistics, there are currently 1,828 women loco pilots employed by Indian Railways (as of 2024), an increase from just 371 ten years earlier.
The majority of these women loco pilots hail from Uttar Pradesh (rising from 36 to 222 in the past decade), followed closely by Telangana (from 13 to 196) and Tamil Nadu (from 39 to 180), according to the data.
Women have made strides in various roles, including loco pilots, station masters, trackmen, signal maintenance, guards, and gangmen.
At present, there are 100,000 women working in Indian Railways, which represents nearly 8.2 percent of the total workforce.
The count of women station masters has also escalated to 1,828, achieving an almost five-fold increase over the last decade.
In parallel, the government is committed to reaching ‘Net Zero’ carbon emissions for Indian Railways, with a target for complete electrification by the end of the 2025-26 fiscal year.
To date, Indian Railways has secured 4,260 MW of solar power and 3,427 MW of wind energy to fulfill its energy requirements.
With this ambitious goal, Indian Railways has already partnered for 1,500 MW of renewable energy.
In addition to establishing its own solar systems, Indian Railways is also procuring solar power through Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with developers.
By 2030, the traction power demand for Indian Railways is estimated to reach 10,000 MW. Thus far, it has achieved 4,260 MW of installed solar capacity and 3,427 MW of wind capacity to cater to its energy needs, as highlighted by Union Minister for Railways and Electronics and IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw.
Vaishnaw has called upon all states to contribute renewable energy—whether solar, wind, hydro, or nuclear—to Indian Railways, underscoring a collective approach toward sustainable energy.
