Press Releases

Vedanta Aluminium plans to double the size of its all-women locomotive crew

• Second all-women locomotive team to be created at the Jharsuguda plant, reinforcing the company’s commitment to gender inclusivity in core industrial operations.
• Launches digital film “On the Right Track”, showcasing India’s first all-women locomotive crew driving progress and redefining leadership in manufacturing.

New Delhi, 9th October 2025: Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest producer of aluminium, has announced plans to double the team size of Vedanta Group’s first all-women locomotive engine team at its Jharsuguda aluminium smelter by the end of 2025. The company plans to add six more women professionals to the current seven-member team. Vedanta also announced plans to create a second all-women locomotive team to manage the growing logistical and operational demands of one of the world’s largest aluminium plants.

This move marks another milestone in Vedanta Aluminium’s journey to create an inclusive industrial ecosystem where women lead critical operations across production, logistics, and technology functions. The company’s all-women locomotive team, deployed during mid-2025, operates and maintains the dedicated locomotive engine responsible for the internal movement of raw materials at the Jharsuguda smelter, one of the most crucial and high-responsibility logistical functions in the aluminium manufacturing process. These locomotives are responsible for the internal movement of raw materials at Vedanta’s mammoth plant spread across 3,000 acres, featuring a 1.8 MTPA smelter and power plants with a cumulative capacity of 3615 MW.

Announcing the expansion, Rajiv Kumar, CEO, Vedanta Aluminium, said, “Our first all-women locomotive team broke new ground by proving that skill, precision, and leadership know no gender. With this expansion, we are doubling down on our commitment to inclusion in action, creating opportunities where women drive some of the most critical operational roles in Indian industry. This is not just about numbers but about shaping the culture of tomorrow’s industrial workplaces.”

The announcement coincides with the launch of Vedanta Aluminium’s new digital film, “On the Right Track,” which celebrates the inspiring journey of these pioneering women locomotive operators. Part of Vedanta Aluminium’s ongoing campaign, the film captures their determination and teamwork as they navigate the massive in-plant railway network at Jharsuguda, symbolising how inclusion fuels innovation and operational excellence.

Set against the backdrop of India’s largest aluminium smelter, it follows these women professionals through powerful visuals of engine start-up sequences, coordination across shifts, and moments of camaraderie that highlight the pride of breaking stereotypes. Each frame reinforces that they are not merely moving materials but, as the film’s narration states, “moving the building blocks of tomorrow.”

In a poignant moment, one of the team members shares, “When I took the driver’s seat for the first time, I realised I wasn’t just driving a locomotive, I was driving change.” Another, Chitra Dhairya, LC Gate Operator, adds, “Initially, there was fear about how women would manage in such demanding roles, but after rigorous training, we gained confidence and now take pride in our work.”

The film closes with the message, “Because the world advances only when powered by belief and conviction, which, when put in motion, moves everything.” As the locomotive glides across the expansive Jharsuguda plant, it carries more than raw materials, it carries dreams, determination, and proof that when belief is put in motion, it moves everything.

Watch the film here: Link

The film also resonates with Vedanta Aluminium’s commitment to inclusion, not just as symbolic representation, but as a value embedded in its workplace culture and operational strategy. The company has emerged as a leader in gender diversity within India’s metals and manufacturing sector, championing women’s empowerment through pioneering initiatives. Signature projects like Shree Shakti have introduced night-shift roles for women, while the company also inaugurated India’s first all-women-managed smelter potline at its Jharsuguda facility. These initiatives are complemented by a gender-agnostic hiring policy, prioritising 50% women recruitment for entry-level roles and aiming for 30% workforce representation by 2030.