Ranchi railway division falling under the Calcutta-headquartered South Eastern Railway zone took a leaf out from Central Railways to run an all-women crew-operated passenger train as a gesture to mark International Women’s Day.

Senior divisional commercial manager-cum-chief public relation officer (CPRO), Ranchi railway division, Nishant Kumar, explained that they could not run the all women crew passenger train on Wednesday (observed as International Women’s Day) or Thursday because of Holi festivity and instead planned it on Friday.

This was the first such instance in any of the railway divisions falling in Jharkhand. “We wanted to make the innovative gesture on a normal day instead of a festive day so that more passengers including women can get the message.

“The objective is to inform masses that women have achieved laurels in all spheres and need to be respected apart from motivation to women,” said Kumar.

Central Railway o n Wednesday operated the prestigious Mumbai-Pune Deccan Queen Express and CSMT-Kalyan ladies special local train with all-women crew.

“On earlier days these women railway employees used to serve in their respective fields on different trains based on roster. However, we clubbed them on one train — Ranchi-Tori passenger train on Friday,” added Kumar.

The train was manned by loco pilot Dipali Amrit, assistant loco pilot Geeta Kumari Khalkho, train manager Anupam Lata, ticket inspector team comprising Ursella Toppo, Masira Surin, Vinita Khess, Muni Bhengra, L. Kerketta, railway protection force (RPF) team comprising Chandrani Biswas, Kalpana Kumari, Saraswati, Pinky, Saroj Tirkey and Puja Barla.

“The train distance between Ranchi and Tori is 110km and started at 8.55am the same crew operated the train in its return journey when it returned to Ranchi at 2.35pm,” added Kumar.

In the two and half hours journey, the train, carrying hundreds of passengers, covered 14 stoppages and returned back.

“We also had all our booking clerks at ticket counters manned by women and even a woman officer flagged off the train,” said the official.

The train was flagged off by senior divisional operation manager (planning) Shreya Singh from Ranchi Railway station at around 8.55am.

“This operation by women for a day is just an example. Women can manage entire train operations. Women can lead the country from the front,” Singh said.

Railway officials at Ranchi informed that they have decided to operate at least one all-woman crew manned train on International Women’s Day every year.