In a groundbreaking move toward gender inclusivity, Delhi has inaugurated the world’s first all-women bus depot, named ‘Sakhi Depot’, located in Sarojini Nagar. The initiative, led by Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot, is a significant step in empowering women in the public transport sector. The depot features a fully female workforce, with 223 women employees, including 89 drivers and 134 conductors, who will operate a fleet of 70 buses covering 17 routes across the city.
This depot is a key part of the Delhi government’s ‘Sakhi’ scheme, aimed at providing more opportunities for women in transportation roles. It highlights the government’s commitment to breaking gender barriers and creating a more inclusive work environment. To accommodate women drivers, changes were made, including reducing the height requirement from 159 cm to 153 cm and modifying buses with power steering for ease of driving.
The project also ties into the broader ‘Mission Parivartan’ initiative, which provides free training to aspiring women drivers. Since its launch in 2022, this program has successfully trained and employed a number of women drivers. Despite the progress, political opposition has arisen, with critics accusing the AAP government of focusing on political gains while sidelining the concerns of contractual workers, particularly regarding pay disparities and regularization of services.
