Winds of change are blowing in the sphere of gender equality and another example of that is BirhanMumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST), who have hired their first woman driver, Laxmi Jadhav.

42-year-old Laxmi Jadhav becomes the first woman driver of 'BEST' bus in Maharashtra https://t.co/tae0O9YEIF #BESTbusgetsfirstwomandriver #LaxmiJadhavbecomesthefirstwomandriver pic.twitter.com/7BPlbITW5G

— Oneindia News (@Oneindia) May 22, 2022

This is the first that this century-old transport service of Mumbai is hiring services of a woman driver. Now, BEST will be employing women not just drivers but also conductors.

Interestingly, BEST will not be Jadhav’s employer as she has been employed by a contractor from whom the State PSU has leased air-conditioned and non-AC buses.

At present, two more women are being trained by BEST as drivers.

Jadhav will take the wheel sometime this week when Maharashtra’s Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and the State Tourism and Environment Minister Aaditya Thackeray will flag off her first ride. She will be driving the route between Dharavi bus depot and south Mumbai.

Talking to the media, Lokesh Chandra, BEST General Manager said: “This is the first time in the history of BEST that women drivers will operate buses in the city. We will also introduce more women drivers in the coming months.” It was in January this year the decision to introduce women bus drivers and conductors was taken.

Also read: UP Police Honours Bundelkhand’s First Woman Auto Driver