Gorakhpur: On the outskirts of Gorakhpur, a railway station is quietly challenging long-held stereotypes. Domingarh, the first all-women-operated railway station in Gorakhpur and the second in the Lucknow division of North Eastern Railway zone, has become a symbol of how women are successfully managing one of the most demanding operational environments in the railway network. Lucknow division is the only division across the Indian Railways network to have two stations operated by women.From station superintendent and station masters to reservation supervisors, RPF personnel and housekeeping staff, every key responsibility at the station is handled by women. During his inspection on Monday, Lucknow division of NER , divisional railway manager Gaurav Agrawal described the station as a “remarkable example of women’s leadership and capability.”What makes the achievement more significant is the complexity of operations at Domingarh. With a railway yard on one side and continuous train movements on the other, the station handles the passage of nearly 120 to 130 trains every day.Senior divisional operations manager Shilpi Kanojia said the station’s signalling and train operations require intense concentration. “People often assume it is a small station, but operationally it is quite challenging. There is no room for error in train operations. The women staff here have proved their efficiency through dedication, focus and teamwork,” she said.For station superintendent Ruby Kumari, the assignment is both a responsibility and a matter of pride. Coming from a railway family, she continued her higher education while in service and now leads the all-women team. “It feels satisfying to see women successfully managing every aspect of station operations,” she said.Station masters Priyanka Kumari and Sanjana Sharma believe the supportive work environment is one of the station’s biggest strengths. Sharma says women employees often feel more comfortable discussing personal or health-related concerns with female colleagues, reducing stress and helping them stay focused on safety-critical duties.At the reservation counters, Manisha Singh and Hemlata Rai interact with passengers daily. While some visitors are surprised to find an entirely women-run station, they say perceptions are gradually changing.Security, too, is in women’s hands. Head constable Roma Maurya and constable Rita Rai oversee safety with the support of 13 CCTV cameras installed across the station. “We ensure discipline, create awareness and take action whenever required,” Maurya said.Even housekeeping staffer Kamli sees the station as different from any workplace she has known. “Here, we work like a family,” she said.At a time when conversations around women’s empowerment often remain confined to policy documents, Domingarh offers a working example — one train, one shift and one success story at a time.
