Kochi Metro puts equality first, becomes country's first organisation to hire 23 transgenders

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first phase of the Kochi Metro on Saturday. While the rail network holds abundance of salient features, but what can be seen as soul-stirring step is the employment of LGBT community as a part of its operations.

Kochi Metro has successfully become the country's first organisation to appoint transgenders as per the state government’s transgender policy; 23 are expected to be on duty for the inaugural run.

It will be employing the largest number of women as compared to any other metro with a workforce that comprising of 80% women.

Read metro: Modi inaugurates Kochi Metro today, travels to Pathadippalam station

Kudumbasree, a women's empowerment-oriented self-help project of the Kerala government, will be coordinating customer relations, crowd management, housekeeping and catering services.

Costing Rs 6,000 crore, this metro service will cover 13 km from Palarivatom to Aluva. Kochi Metro project has been constructed by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and will be operated by the Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL). The total route length of the metro is 26 km with 22 stations planned, but in the first phase the metro will run 13 km and cover 11 stations.