Bangalore-Tumkur suburban train has distinction of having Bangalore's first woman assistant loco pilot on board
Bangalore-Tumkur suburban train has distinction of having Bangalore's first woman assistant loco pilot on board
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Aloka Bala Naik (24) is the city's first lady assistant loco pilot. She operates the Bangalore-Tumkur suburban train service.
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MAIDEN JOURNEY: Aloka Bala Naik at Central railway station. Pics/Satish Badiger |
Naik, who is from Orissa, has completed her Diploma in Electronics and Telecommunication and is now pursuing Bachelor in Computer Application (BCA). She recently completed her training and has been inducted into service.
On her first journey from the city to Tumkur and back, Naik completed two trips. Sharing her first day's experience, Naik said, "I didn't know that I am the first lady assistant loco pilot for the city, I came to know only later. People were staring at me at every station seeing me sitting in driver's cabin. I was feeling very proud when people were talking about me at the railway stations."
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After her first day on the job, and inside the locomotive. Pics/Satish Badiger |
She added, "Being the first day, I was very happy and on the other side I was a bit scared in the beginning but later became comfortable after getting the support of Loco Inspector Sudhakar and my Loco Pilot G Narayan."
Naik feels safe working as an assistant loco pilot as she is put on day duty. She is working in the passenger train running between the city to Tumkur and back.u00a0 The first trip from the city is at 9.20 am and reaches Tumkur at 11.05 am and leaves Tumkur at 11.20 pm and reaches the city at 13.20 pm. Again it leaves the city at 13.40 pm and reaches Tumkur at 15.25 pm and leaves Tumkur at 15.50 pm and arrives in the city at 17.40 pm.
Naik came down to the city on June 2, 2009, completed her diesel loco training on October 5 and AC loco (Electric) on January 6, 2010, and the railway department posted her in the city.
Naik said, "I will have to basically assist and coordinate with the loco driver. I will have to check and keep track of all the instruments, loop oil, air pressure, telephone, fire extinguisher and many more and have to make a note of every thing for every half an hour about the status. If some thing is not working or so I will have to inform the driver and engineers to set it right."
She also added, "I love the city because of its cool weather and the variety of food available. Being a North Indian, I am not finding it difficult as there are so many food joints where north Indian food is available. Also I don't face any language problem as people here talk in English and Hindi," said Aloka.
"I would like to thank all my colleagues for the support, help and encouragement right from the time of my training," she added.
The loco pilot of the Bangalore-Tumkur passenger train, G Narayan, who joined railway service in 1970 said, "She was very confident on the first day and worked very confidently. She is not less than any other assistant.
Gradually she will learn every thing and become an experienced one. I am such a person that even after the assistants check every thing, I once again cross check before proceeding."
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