Bhor farmer's daughter Vaishnavi Bathe to drive Pune's Pink Metro on Line 3

Pune's IT hub now has better connectivity. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Line 3 of Pune Metro via video link. The line, running from Hinjewadi to Shivajinagar, brings relief to Punekars and is in service from today.

The launch also came with news that has made Pune proud. Vaishnavi Ganesh Bathe of Kenjal village in Bhor taluka has become a metro driver. Her father, Ganesh Bathe, is a farmer. Vaishnavi got the chance to drive the Pink Metro on the Hinjewadi route, inaugurated yesterday.

Vaishnavi completed her engineering studies in difficult circumstances and reached this point. She was placed in a job while her engineering course was still under way. Later, during further studies, she got the opportunity to work in the metro. She completed six months of special training. Many of the girls who trained with her are also working as metro drivers today.

Vaishnavi is a train pilot and metro operator with Keolis India Private Limited. She has handled various trials of Pune Metro as well as running trains. Her success has brought joy to the Bathe family. Kenjal village and the surrounding area are praising her in the name of women's empowerment. "Daughters are not lesser than anyone", Vaishnavi showed today. Because of her, the whole of Kenjal village, along with her family, holds its head high with pride.

The Pink Metro, Pune Metro's Line 3, runs 23.2 km from Maan-Hinjewadi to Shivajinagar. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated it yesterday. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis then bought the first ticket and travelled on the metro. The line has 23 stations in all.

The Pink Metro is operated by women train pilots. The lead train pilot is Pragati Biradar. There are 90 women drivers, and women make up 50 per cent of the total staff. Yesterday the Chief Minister described it as the Pink Metro. It is a matter of pride for Maharashtra.