Mumbai:
Like lakhs of Mumbaikars, 34-year-old Priti Kumari rode a local train on Tuesday. The only difference was that she piloted it, becoming the first motorwoman of Western Railway (WR) to do so.
Kumari, who hails from Bihar, drove the 2:29 pm local between Churchgate and Borivli and was guided by a chief loco inspector.
An excited Kumari, who underwent on-field training for six months, said she felt happy with the achievement. Kumari, who was one of three to join WR today, began her day by going to the temple.
Sixty-nine candidates started training for the post in August 2009, of which three were inducted today.
Kumari is also the first woman in Indian Railways to gain direct entry to the post. On Central Railway, motorwomen like Surekha Yadav, the first motorwoman in Asia, worked her way up from the post of assistant driver.
A diploma-holder in Electronics and a BA (Honours) in History, Kumari is a native of Banka district in Bihar. She joined WR's Electrical Training College, Mahalaxmi in August last year and stays in suburban Dahisar with her husband who is with the Indian Air Force.