Woman power was all visible as the first ride of the Metro Rail with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao and other dignitaries sitting in was piloted by a young lady. Supriya Sunam, who stormed yet another male bastion.
It wasn’t a mechanical ride for this Mechanical Engineering graduate from Vignan Bharati Institute of Technology (VBIT) in Aushapur as the Indian Prime Minister was on board along with the Chief Minister. She was also aware of history being recorded but that did not unnerve her and she ensured the ride was smooth.
Surpriya was part of the driving team who had undergone rigorous training for over 18 months before getting the nod. She has clocked over 2,500 Kms of driving experience during the training period, a senior official revealed. M. Rajasekhar Chary was the other local pilot on the inaugural run. Family, near and dear of this 24-year old Nizamabad native are filled with joy and excitement seeing her pictures splashed all over the television. However, her parents Prabhavathi Sanum and Pramod Kumar, who live in the CSI Church Compound in Nizamabad were not aware of her assignment as it was kept secret.
“I have just seen on the television and been thrilled and amazed. Probably it was decided in the last minute and therefore she did not tell us,” said Prabhavathi who retired as office superintendent in the APDDC. “It is a proud moment for us. In fact, in her M.Tech at CBIT she did her project on railways itself. Hence, she got selection in railways with ease,” said Promod Kumar, a retired teacher.
Proud moment
Supriya had her schooling and junior college education at Kakatiya Educational Institutions in Nizamabad.
Her elder brother Prasanna Kumar works with Amazon. “I am proud of my sister,” said her cousin Varun while Sulakshana Rana, a teacher in Nirmala Hruday High School said Supriya’s achievement was inspirational.
