AP gets first woman loco pilot

The Secunderabad railway station wore a festive look on the eve of Women’s Day, surprisingly, not because of an inaugural of any new train by some VIP but because a lady loco pilot was to drive the poor man’s Metro i.e. MMTS (Multi-Modal Transport System) train for the very first time.

Satyavathi became the first  woman loco pilot in Andhra Pradesh by driving the Mathrubhoomi Ladies Special MMTS train on the occasion of World Women’s day from Falaknuma to Lingampalli. Sathyavathi who joined the hall of fame of “woman loco pilots” in Indian Railways joined the Railways as Assistant Loco Pilot in 1999 at Bengaluru. She was later transferred to the Secunderabad division. She was promoted as Loco Pilot (goods) on September 2005 and had been shuttling goods trains in and around Hyderabad before her present promotion.

Satyavathi, after successfully clearing her MMTS training in January this year, was exposed to live handling and requisite track learning and was subsequently found fit to run MMTS trains in suburban sections of the twin cities. But, for her the biggest achievement is that she will be single-handedly managing and working MMTS trains, without the help of any assistant loco pilot.

Satyavathi has also undergone track learning in the Hyderabad--Tandur section and wants to run main line passenger trains too.

“I am honoured as MMTS today has become the life line of the poor and middle class people living in the sub urban areas,” she said.

Moreover, Secunderabad division of the Railways has four more women assistant loco pilots being groomed to be loco pilots in future.