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

Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot on Saturday inaugurated the world’s first all-women bus depot at Sarojini Nagar, named the ‘Sakhi Depot’.

Speaking at the inauguration, Gahlot lauded the efforts of the women workforce.

“The ‘Sakhi Depot’ is not just a symbol of women empowerment, but a testament to breaking barriers in traditionally male-dominated fields. Our women drivers and conductors are paving the way for a more inclusive and progressive society. This depot is just the beginning; we aim to establish many such depots across Delhi under the ‘Sakhi’ initiative, offering equal opportunities and inspiring women across the nation,” he said.

The Sarojini Nagar Sakhi Depot has a workforce of 223 women, comprising 89 drivers and 134 conductors. The depot operates a fleet of 70 buses, including 40 air-conditioned (AC) and 30 non-AC buses, serving 17 routes across Delhi.

Transport Department officials said one of the significant hurdles was the height requirement for women drivers.

“The original minimum height requirement of 159 cm excluded many aspiring women drivers. In February 2022, the height requirement was reduced to 153 cm. To further facilitate women drivers, buses were equipped with power steering, adjustable seats and steering options, making them more accessible and easier to operate,” they said.

To address the challenge of obtaining Heavy Motor Vehicle (HMV) licences, the Delhi Government partnered with Ashok Leyland in April 2022 to launch Mission Parivartan. The initiative provides free training to women drivers, with costs split between the Delhi Government and Ashok Leyland.

The first batch of 11 women drivers graduated and joined the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) in August 2022, an official said.

“Over time, additional batches of women drivers were inducted, bringing the current number to 89 women drivers who have been confidently operating buses for over a year, with some boasting more than two years of experience,” the official added.

Formerly known as the Sarojini Nagar Depot, the Sakhi Depot holds significant importance in Delhi’s transport history. It was inaugurated in April 1954 and became Delhi’s first-ever bus depot.

Delhi BJP president Shri Virendra Sachdeva accused the AAP government of being ‘deceptive’. “The AAP is making announcements solely for political gains without adhering to constitutional norms,” he stated.

“After 10 years of inaction, Gahlot inaugurated an all-women bus depot in Sarojini Nagar today, presenting it as an example of women’s empowerment for political mileage. However, DTC’s female employees protested, exposing the government’s stance against contractual workers,” Sachdeva added. He criticised the AAP government for its ‘anti-women and anti-contractual worker policies’.

“The Delhi BJP promises that, after forming the government in February 2025, we will form a committee to ensure that all male and female contractual employees of DTC receive salaries nearly equal to those of regular employees. Additionally, to enhance service security, 2,000 new buses will be introduced into DTC within two years,” he said.