By Manjiri Joshi,News18
Copyright news18
Mumbai’s Metro network has two stations that fully handled by women. Do you know which are they?
From their names to the line and how the system works, the details of Mumbai Metro’s ‘all-women’ stations, explained.
Mumbai Metro’s ‘all-women’ stations
Currently, Mumbai Metro currently has two ‘all-women staff’ stations — Akurli on Line 2A and Eksar on Line 7.
These stations were announced in March 2023 as the city’s first Metro stations fully operated by women, staffed across all roles from station managers to security and housekeeping personnel, with a team of around 76 women employees working in three shifts, according to various media reports.
Akurli station
Akurli Metro is part of the Mumbai Metro Red Line 7, which connects Dahisar East and Andheri (East) along the Western Express Highway. Line 7 has 13 stations (all elevated) — Dahisar East, Ovaripada, Rashtriya Udyan, Devipada, Magathane, Poisar, Akurli, Kurar, Dindoshi, Aarey, Goregaon East, Jogeshwari East, Gundavali (Andheri East).
#WATCH | Maharashtra | Visuals from the Akurli Metro Station which is one of the all-women stations of the Mumbai Metro. (07.03)#InternationalWomensDay2025 pic.twitter.com/82s7Lv4Cql
— ANI (@ANI) March 8, 2025
Eksar station
Eksar is part of the 17 elevated stations on Mumbai Metro 2A: Dahisar East, Anand Nagar, Kandarpada, Mandapeshwar, Eksar, Borivali West, Pahadi Eksar, Kandivali West, Dahanukarwadi, Valnai-Meeth Chowky, Malad West, Lower Malad, Pahadi Goregaon, Goregaon West, Oshiwara, Lower Oshiwara, Andheri West (D.N. Nagar interchange).
What is an ‘all-women’ station?
It means the station’s operations are handled entirely by female employees across all roles: station controller, ticket sales, excess fare officer, shift supervisors, security staff, housekeeping, customer care, etc.
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They operate in three shifts to cover the station throughout opening hours.
The move is often aimed at gender empowerment, equality, inclusivity, visibility, and better safety and comfort perception for women commuters. This initiative by Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and Maha Mumbai Metro Operation Corporation Limited (MMMOCL) aims to recognise and celebrate the contributions of women in the transportation industry and promote gender diversity and inclusivity in the transportation sector, a press note had earlier said.
“We are not only keen on providing our female employees a safe working environment by having separate women changing rooms throughout Metro lines 2A and 7 but also for female commuters by having designated women metro coaches, washrooms,” it further added, according to reports.
How does that compare to other stations?
Across new lines 2A & 7, women are about 27-30% of the total staff (including technical, administrative, non technical) as of 2023, according to media reports.
For example, in the technical department of the metro lines, of the 305 technical staff, 63 are women.
Also, MMMOCL (Maha Mumbai Metro Operation Corporation Limited) reportedly has approximately 958 female employees in various departments (maintenance, HR, finance, admin, including outsourced staff), said reports.
Do other public transport have such initiatives?
Matunga Station, Mumbai (Central Railway) is the first women-operated station in India. It is staffed entirely by women: booking clerks, ticket checkers, RPF/security personnel, announcers, conservancy, station manager, etc.
Ajni Station, Nagpur (Central Railway): It is another ‘pink station’, a term used by railways, managed entirely by women.
New Amaravati Station, Maharashtra: This is the third station under Central Railway to be fully managed by women. It is styled as a ‘pink station’. It has 12 women employees, including deputy station superintendents, points women, RPF personnel, ticket booking agent, according to NDTV.
Maninagar Station (Ahmedabad): It is an all-women station, TOI reported.
With Agency Inputs
