New Delhi, Nov. 7 -- Pune has made a significant mark in India's public transport history with 90 women taking charge of train operations on its new Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar Metro corridor. The 23.3-km Pune Metro Line 3 has become the country's first Metro corridor to have an exclusively female team of train operators.

The women, many of whom are in their 20s, have completed months of training and passed the required competency assessments before being allowed to operate trains carrying passengers. Their work is part of an initiative that aims to increase women's participation in a field traditionally dominated by men.

The new corridor began passenger services on 4 November, a day after PM Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the line. It ...