Vedanta to set up second all-women locomotive team at Jharsuguda plant

Bhubaneswar, Oct 9 (UNI) Vedanta Aluminium has announced plans to double the strength of its first all-women locomotive engine team at its Jharsuguda aluminium smelter by the end of 2025 and establish a second such team to support its growing logistics operations.

The company aims to induct six more women professionals into the existing seven-member team and form another all-women locomotive crew to manage the increasing logistical and operational demands of one of the world’s largest aluminium smelters.

This initiative marks another milestone in Vedanta Aluminium’s efforts to build an inclusive industrial ecosystem where women lead critical operations across production, logistics, and technology.
Deployed in mid-2025, the all-women locomotive team operates and maintains the dedicated engine responsible for the internal movement of raw materials across the 3,000-acre Jharsuguda plant, which houses a 1.8 MTPA smelter and captive power plants with a combined capacity of 3,615 MW.

Announcing the expansion, Vedanta Aluminium CEO Rajiv Kumar 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 workplaces.”

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

Through powerful visuals of engine start-up sequences, shift coordination, and moments of camaraderie, the film reinforces the message that these women are not merely moving materials, but as the narration puts it, “moving the building blocks of tomorrow.”