Jaipur Metro Makes History with India's First All-Women Operated Station at Shyam Nagar

Jul, 1 2025

Breaking Stereotypes: Jaipur Metro's All-Women Shyam Nagar Station

In a striking move for gender equality, Jaipur Metro has turned the Shyam Nagar Metro Station into a groundbreaker by staffing it entirely with women. This isn't just a token effort—since the switch, 32 women are involved in everything from running trains to fixing signals and managing passenger safety. Their work covers round-the-clock operations, meaning women are in charge 24/7. The Hindi name for the station, 'Pratham Mahila Shakti Railway Station,' sets the tone: women's power isn't just welcomed here—it's running the show.

This station isn't new; it's been serving riders since September 2016. But it's only recently that it's become a symbol of opportunity and a challenge to old ideas about women in so-called "non-traditional" careers. When you arrive at Shyam Nagar, it's women on the platforms, women guiding the trains, women checking tickets, and women making sure late-night commuters feel safe. Even tasks typically viewed as male-dominated—like heavy maintenance or tech troubleshooting—are handled by women.

The Jaipur Metro Rail Corporation (JMRC) says that about 30% of their staff across the network are women, a figure most urban transport systems in India still can't match. Six women already serve as train operators for the city’s 23 metro trains. The company is quick to point out that this isn't just symbolism. Their first-ever metro ride in 2015—years before the Shyam Nagar station became all-women—was piloted by a woman. Clearly, this wasn’t a one-off or public relations stunt.

Changing the Face of Public Transport

The women at Shyam Nagar station aren't just comfortable in their roles—they’re proud of them. Staff like Monika Mittal, who guides metro trains through the city’s tunnels, speak openly about the confidence and excitement they gain from their work. Rajshree Saini, the customer relations assistant, explains how they’re not just running a metro station—they’re showing girls across India that there's a place for them in transport, engineering, and public service.

JMRC has also considered life outside the workplace. Recognizing that many women juggle work and home, they've planned a creche at the station that can look after up to 20 children. This helps working mothers focus on their jobs, knowing their kids are close by and safe.

The public has responded with curiosity and mostly admiration. Some passengers admit to double-taking the first time they realized an entire train and station were handled by women. But feedback has been positive, with many riding to Shyam Nagar just to see the all-women team in action. The message it sends is clear: public transport—once seen as a man's world—is wide open, and Jaipur’s leading the way.

With Shyam Nagar blazing a trail, other metro systems across India are watching closely, wondering if they’ll be next to rethink what their teams can look like. For now, Jaipur’s experiment isn’t just working—it’s inspiring.