Vedanta Aluminium to double all-women locomotive crew, accelerating inclusion on the industrial track

THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 9, 2025

Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest producer of aluminium, has announced plans to double the size of Vedanta Group’s first all-women locomotive engine crew at its Jharsuguda aluminium smelter by the end of 2025. The company will induct six more women professionals into the existing seven-member team and form a second all-women locomotive unit to meet the growing logistical and operational needs of one of the world’s largest aluminium plants.

The initiative marks a major milestone in Vedanta Aluminium’s efforts to foster an inclusive industrial ecosystem where women take charge of critical operations across production, logistics, and technology functions. Deployed in mid-2025, the pioneering all-women locomotive crew operates and maintains the dedicated engine responsible for the internal movement of raw materials within the vast 3,000-acre Jharsuguda facility, which houses a 1.8 MTPA smelter and captive power plants with a combined capacity of 3,615 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.”

Coinciding with this announcement, Vedanta Aluminium launched a new digital film titled “On the Right Track”, celebrating the inspiring journey of these pioneering women locomotive operators. Part of the company’s ongoing campaign on inclusion, the film showcases their determination and teamwork as they navigate the massive in-plant railway network at Jharsuguda — symbolising how inclusion powers innovation and operational excellence.

Set against the backdrop of India’s largest aluminium smelter, the film captures powerful visuals of engine start-ups, shift coordination, and moments of camaraderie that reflect pride in breaking stereotypes. It reinforces that these women are not merely transporting materials but, as the film narrates, “moving the building blocks of tomorrow.”

In one poignant scene, a crew member 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, recalls, “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 concludes with the message: “The world advances only when powered by belief and conviction — which, when put in motion, moves everything.” As the locomotive glides across Jharsuguda’s vast landscape, it carries not just raw materials, but dreams, determination, and proof that belief in action moves the world forward.

Vedanta Aluminium’s gender inclusion efforts go beyond symbolic representation, embedding diversity into its workplace culture and operational strategy. The company has emerged as a leader in gender diversity within India’s metals and manufacturing sector through initiatives like ‘Shree Shakti’, which introduced night-shift roles for women, and the country’s first all-women-managed smelter potline at Jharsuguda. These efforts are reinforced by a gender-neutral hiring policy targeting 50 per cent women recruitment at entry levels and 30% overall workforce representation by 2030.

A business of Vedanta Limited, Vedanta Aluminium is India’s largest aluminium producer, contributing over half of the nation’s output with 2.42 million tonnes produced in FY25. The company is a leading manufacturer of value-added aluminium products for key industries and ranks second globally in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2024 for the aluminium sector. With world-class smelters, an alumina refinery, and captive power plants in India, Vedanta Aluminium continues to advance its mission of positioning aluminium as the “Metal of the Future” for a greener, more sustainable tomorrow.