In a significant achievement, Surekha Yadav has added another feature to her cap as she becomes the first woman to drive the semi-high-speed Vande Bharat Express train.
On Monday, March 13, she drove the train from Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminal (CSMT) to Solapur station, covering over 450 kilometers. The Central Railway (CR) honoured 57-year-old Yadav at platform number 8 at CSMT.
Explaining about the challenges faced in driving a new locomotive, the CR in its official statement mentioned that the Vande Bharat Express is a prestigious train, and the loco piloting on new routes requires extensive study.
The crew must use extreme caution while the train is in motion. The crew learning procedure includes signal observing, hands-on new equipment, collaboration with other crew members, and observation of all parameters for the train's functioning. Yadav's accomplishment is a testament to her dedication and expertise, it further added.
Railway experts have applauded Yadav's achievement, noting the challenges that come with operating such trains. The Central Railway expressed pride in Yadav and her accomplishment, stating that she scored another feather in their cap. It is pertinent to note that she was also Asia's first woman loco pilot.
The minister of railways, Ashwini Vaishnav, tweeted that "Nari Shakti is the force behind Vande Bharat."
Vande Bharat - powered by Nari Shakti.
— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) March 13, 2023
Smt. Surekha Yadav, the first woman loco pilot of Vande Bharat Express. pic.twitter.com/MqVjpgm4EO
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 10 flagged off the two Vande Bharat Express trains -- CSMT-Solapur and CSMT-Sainagar Shirdi -- on February 10, 2023.
Yadav made history in 1988 when she became the country's and Asia's first female train driver. She hails from Satara in western Maharashtra and has already received several honors for her accomplishments.
Share
Tweet
