Riyadh – Indira Eegalapati, a Hyderabad native, stands among the few female loco pilots contributing to the Riyadh Metro as it nears the final stages of its trial runs. This landmark project, slated for full operation by early 2025, has brought Eegalapati pride as she plays a pivotal role in the Saudi capital’s rapid transit system.
At 33, Eegalapati reflects on her journey as both a train pilot and station operations master, a career that began five years ago. Originally working with Hyderabad Metro, she seized the opportunity with Riyadh Metro when she learned of job openings abroad. “Being part of a prestigious, world-class project as an expatriate is truly a proud moment,” she shared.
In 2019, Eegalapati and two other Indians joined the team in Riyadh; however, the pandemic quickly required them to adapt to virtual training sessions. Despite the challenges, Eegalapati has found the experience rewarding and expresses appreciation for Saudi Arabia’s welcoming culture. “The people here are incredibly friendly, and it’s hard to believe five years have flown by,” she told PTI.
Notably, Eegalapati is one of the first women recruited for Riyadh Metro and speaks highly of the gender-equal workplace. “There’s no gender bias here; we all have equal opportunities,” she affirmed.
Eegalapati’s roots trace back to Dhullipalla in Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh, though she moved to Hyderabad in 2006. Raised in a lower-middle-class family, her father, a mechanic, prioritized education over marriage for his daughters. “For him, education came first, even though we came from modest means,” Eegalapati remarked. She completed her engineering degree, while her elder sister became a teacher and her youngest sibling also works as a train pilot with Hyderabad Metro. Her husband is similarly employed in the maintenance department of Riyadh Metro.
Eegalapati’s expertise extends beyond Riyadh; she was deployed to Doha in 2022 to manage crowds at the FIFA World Cup. “The experience of coordinating such a large crowd successfully was truly memorable,” she recalled.
With Riyadh Metro’s public operations on the horizon, Eegalapati continues to break barriers, representing Hyderabad and India on an international stage.
