Delhi govt inaugurates world’s first all-women bus depot at Sarojini Nagar

Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot inaugurated the world’s first all-women bus depot, named ‘Sakhi Depot,’ in Sarojini Nagar on Saturday, according to an official statement.

The depot features an all-female workforce, including drivers, conductors, and other staff, as part of a broader effort to promote inclusivity and gender equality in the workplace, the Delhi Transport Department said.

The Sakhi Depot employs 223 women, including 89 drivers and 134 conductors, who operate 70 buses on 17 routes across Delhi. The fleet comprises 40 air-conditioned and 30 non-air-conditioned buses, the statement added.

Speaking at the event, Minister Gahlot described the depot as a landmark initiative in breaking stereotypes in male-dominated fields. He emphasised that this is just the beginning of similar efforts under the ‘Sakhi’ programme, which aims to expand opportunities for women in public transport.

Setting up the Sakhi Depot involved overcoming challenges such as revising the minimum height requirement for drivers from 159 cm to 153 cm to make the role accessible to more women. The buses were also modified with features like power steering and adjustable seats to accommodate female drivers and support their training and licensing, according to the statement.

The initiative stems from the ‘Mission Parivartan’ programme launched by the Delhi government in April 2022, which offers free training for women aspiring to become drivers. The first batch of trainees graduated in August 2022, and the current workforce includes women with over two years of driving experience.

The Sakhi Depot also carries historical significance, as it was originally established in April 1954 as Delhi’s first bus depot and named after Sarojini Naidu, the renowned freedom fighter and poet known as the Nightingale of India, the statement noted.

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Meanwhile, Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva criticised the AAP government, alleging that the event was used for political purposes while ignoring the plight of contractual workers. He claimed that some female employees protested at the inauguration, demanding equal pay and the regularisation of their services, highlighting ongoing issues despite Supreme Court directives.

(With inputs from PTI)