Pune Metro Line 3 Set To Be Driven Exclusively By Women, 100 Train Pilots Under Training
Pune Metro Line 3 Set To Be Driven Exclusively By Women, 100 Train Pilots Under Training
Hinjewadi–Shivajinagar ‘Pink Line’ prepares for March 2026 launch with women-led operations and intensive safety-focused training.
Pune Metro Line 3, connecting Hinjewadi to Shivajinagar, is being positioned as a unique women-led initiative, with the entire corridor planned to be operated by women train pilots. Officials said the project is moving towards a March 2026 start, with final testing and operational preparations currently underway.
A dedicated “Nari Shakti” team of 100 women train pilots has been recruited for the corridor. In the first phase, 50 women have already been selected, and their final training is in progress.
“The process of completing the metro on time is underway by all the agencies related to it. One of them is that 100 women have been appointed to drive the metro, and 50 have been selected in the first phase. Their final training is underway,” said Anil Saini, Chief Executive Officer, Pune City Metro Rail Limited.
Most of the recruits are from Pune and neighbouring districts, though some candidates have joined from cities such as Mumbai, Hyderabad and other parts of the country. Officials noted that around 60% of the selected women are fresh graduates, largely with engineering degrees, while others bring prior metro-driving experience.
The selection process included written tests, interviews, aptitude checks and psychometric evaluations. The women have also undergone an intensive three-month training programme, including 200 km of supervised driving in both day and night conditions.
Metro authorities said the focus has been not only on operational readiness but also on safety, wellbeing and long-term workforce integration. Special protocols have been prepared to ensure secure working conditions for the women pilots, from workplace safety to travel support.
Officials highlighted that the initiative is being seen as more than a transport milestone.
“This isn’t just about running trains—it is about inspiring the next generation of women to step into roles once seen as unconventional,” Anil Saini said, calling the pilots a symbol of resilience and progress.
Metro Line 3 is expected to significantly cut travel time between Pune’s IT hub Hinjewadi and Shivajinagar, reducing the commute to around 40 minutes and offering major relief to thousands of daily office-goers facing road congestion.
The fully elevated corridor spans about 23 km with 23 stations, and will operate with modern metro trainsets as Pune prepares for a new chapter in urban mobility led by women at the controls.
