This Indian woman loco pilot will run the metro in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Indira Igalpati, a resident of Hyderabad, is very excited to run the metro in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Egalpati is one of the women who is involved in operating the metro in Riyadh and is currently running trial trains. Before going to Riyadh, she was handling metro related work in Hyderabad.

According to news agency PTI, 33-year-old Indira, who has been working as a train pilot and station operation master for the last five years, said, “It is really a matter of pride for me to be a part of this world-class and prestigious project, especially being an expatriate. It’s a moment.” When Indira came to know about the vacancy in Riyadh Metro, she was working in Hyderabad Metro and then she applied for it.

Riyadh Metro may start in 2025

Indira and two others from India joined Riyadh Metro in 2019, but due to the Covid-19 global pandemic, they had to undergo initial training digitally. Currently, experimental testing is going on and according to reports, Riyadh Metro service is likely to be operational by the beginning of 2025.

‘The experience so far in Riyadh has been very good’

Indira, one of the selected women to be recruited as a pilot, said, “The experience so far has been really good. The people of Saudi Arabia are very friendly and their culture is very good. I can’t even imagine that I have completed five years here. Indira also said that as a woman she never faced any challenge and there are equal opportunities here and there is no gender discrimination.

Younger sister also loco pilot in Hyderabad Metro

Indira, a resident of Dhulipalla in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh, settled in Hyderabad in 2006. Indira’s father was a mechanic, but he never compromised with the education of his three children. Indira said that she belonged to a lower middle class family, but her father ensured that she received her education. Indira completed her engineering studies and her elder sister is a teacher. His youngest sister is also working as a loco pilot in Hyderabad Metro.

‘Worked in Doha also’

Indira’s husband also works in the maintenance department of the metro here. Indira was also sent to Doha to assist in crowd management during the 2022 Football World Cup. He said, “It was a great experience to see such a huge crowd and we made it a success without any mishap.”

Also read- Shocking statement of Pak Defense Minister regarding war with India, India’s connection with Quetta attack