Uttar Pradesh Couple Makes Headlines as Bus Driver and Ticket Collector

A Unique Duo in Bulandshahr

In Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, a couple working for the Uttar Pradesh State Transport Corporation has captured public attention. The duo, stationed at the Loha Depot, has become a topic of conversation across the region. Interestingly, the wife is behind the wheel of the bus while her husband manages ticket collection for passengers. Observers are often astonished to see a woman driving the bus while her husband performs ticketing duties.

The female driver, Vedakumari, has taken on this role, with her husband Mukesh Prajapati assisting as the ticket collector. Vedakumari holds a postgraduate degree in Sanskrit and had initially been preparing for a recruitment exam with the Delhi Police. However, upon learning about the recruitment of female drivers for the transport department, she decided to pursue this new path.

Working Together in the Same Bus

Under the Prime Minister's Skill Development Scheme, she trained to become a driver and received heavy vehicle training from the Model Driving Training and Research Institute in Kanpur in 2021, with support from the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC). Following her training, she was assigned to the workshop at the Loha Depot for ten months. In April 2023, she took the wheel of a roadways bus for the first time, officially becoming a driver for the transport corporation. Now, this couple works together on the Kaushambi to Badaun route, sharing their lives and careers.

Inspiring Others as a Female Driver

Vedakumari is also a mother to a son and a daughter, with her son Surya Kant in 10th grade and her daughter Bhavika in kindergarten. Currently, she is employed on a contractual basis. She expresses satisfaction with the well-constructed highways, which have made driving much easier. Over the past year, she has been driving the bus, and passengers often take photos or videos of her while she drives, sharing them on social media. This attention has made her quite happy, and she has become an inspiration for other women.