NT Reporter
Panaji
When Pooja Vaigankar from Bicholim applied to become a driver with the Kadamba Transport Corporation (KTC), officials were surprised. They assumed she had come to apply for a conductor’s post. Instead, she wanted to drive a bus.
Today, Vaigankar is KTC’s first woman driver, operating heavy passenger buses from the Panaji depot on routes towards Valpoi.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant felicitated her during the corporation’s 46th anniversary celebrations.
With an SSC qualification, Vaigankar set out to enter a profession traditionally dominated by men.
“Everyone was shocked,” she said, recalling her first approach to the corporation. When officials assumed she wanted to become a conductor, she made her intention clear. “No, I came for a driver application.”
Vaigankar said she was grateful for the guidance and support she received during the selection process. However, working behind the wheel has brought its own challenges. Keeping to strict schedules and dealing with negative comments from people on the road are among the difficulties she faces while carrying out her daily duties.
These experiences have not deterred her.
“Everywhere we have to face challenges,” she said, stressing the importance of self-belief. “Keep self-confident, keep trust on yourself first, and then people will give you trust,” she said.
Her decision to pursue the profession was influenced partly by videos she watched online of women travelling independently and riding heavy motorcycles. She hopes her experience will encourage more women in Goa to consider careers traditionally seen as the preserve of men.
For Vaigankar, becoming a bus driver has brought more than the opportunity to operate a heavy vehicle. It has given her a professional identity and a sense of dignity.
“You get an identity like me… a poor person getting an identity is a big thing,” she said.
As she continues to drive on Goa’s roads, Vaigankar hopes other women will overcome their hesitation, challenge conventional expectations and pursue careers of their choice.
