Uttar Pradesh Couple Makes Headlines as Bus Driver and Ticket Collector

A Unique Duo in Bulandshahr

New Delhi: 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, is making waves with their unique roles; the wife is behind the wheel of a roadways bus while her husband manages ticket collection. Observers are often astonished to see a woman driving the bus while her husband assists passengers.

The female driver, Vedakumari, is a postgraduate in Sanskrit. Initially preparing for a recruitment exam with the Delhi Police, she shifted her focus to driving when the opportunity for female drivers arose in the roadways. She decided to take the steering wheel and embrace this new path.

Working Together in the Same Bus

Under the Prime Minister's Skill Development Scheme, Vedakumari trained to become a driver and received heavy vehicle training at 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 spent ten months at the workshop of the Loha Depot. In April 2023, she took the wheel of a roadways bus for the first time, officially becoming a driver for the Uttar Pradesh State Transport Corporation. Now, this couple works together on the Kaushambi to Badaun route, sharing their professional lives.

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 employed on a contractual basis, she notes that the government has improved highway conditions, making driving much easier. Over the past year, as she drives the bus, passengers often take photos or videos of her, sharing them on social media, which brings her joy. Vedakumari has become an inspiration for many women looking to break barriers in traditionally male-dominated fields.