Like every suburban railway station in Mumbai, the Matunga station sees a footfall of lakhs every day. But there is something special about this commuter hub. It is the first railway station in India run entirely by women. For decades, railway jobs were seen as men’s territory. Long hours, crowded platforms, and safety concerns kept women away from core operation roles. Matunga flipped that script.
The Matunga railway station became India’s first women-run station in July 2017. The impact was felt far beyond the station. In 2018, it earned a spot in the Limca Book of Records.
What seemed like a simple administrative shift carried a powerful message. It showed that public infrastructure, often seen as rigid male dominated could also become a space where women lead from the front
The Women Behind the Change
At the centre of the station’s transformation is its leadership and team. The station is managed entirely by a 30-member team, including the station master.
Among them is Mamta Kulkarni from the Mumbai division, one of the first women to lead the station. She had joined the railways in 1992 and had spent over two decades in the system before witnessing this moment.
Speaking about the experience, she told NDTV, “Our experience has been very smooth, or say, somewhat magical. In my career spanning 25 years with the Railways, I never thought of working with an all-women staff.”
The shift also changed everyday interactions at the station. Women staff members who were earlier expected to deal mainly with female passengers began handling all travellers with confidence. The presence of women personnel from the Railway Protection Force and nearby police support also helped create a safer environment for staff working late hours.
A Symbol More Than a Station
Former Central Railway General Manager D. K. Sharma said, “We in Central Railway are convinced that there is no tool for development more effective than empowering our women and the ladies special station speaks all about it.”
That belief turned Matunga Station into more than just another stop on the suburban railway map. It became a reminder that representation matters, especially in everyday public spaces used by thousands of people daily.
