Bengaluru: A fuel station in the heart of the tech capital is quietly redefining what empowerment looks like in everyday spaces. The first shift of the day (between 6am and 2pm) is completely operated by women here, who do everything from managing vehicle flow at the entrance to dispensing petrol and diesel to cleaning windshields and assisting customers.This unusual morning shift has become a daily phenomenon in the past few months at the fuel station, operated by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited on Kasturba Road in the central business district (CBD).
For employees like Yashoda, the day begins long before the city wakes up. By 4am, she is preparing for work. At 6am sharp, dressed neatly in her uniform, she takes her position beside the fuel dispenser. Each customer is welcomed with a polite “namaste” — a greeting she expresses with the same warmth for the first vehicle owner of the day and the last.As cars and two-wheelers begin to queue up, Yashoda and her colleagues move through their tasks with practised efficiency. For them, it is simply another workday. But for many motorists pulling in, the scene still feels unusual as women dominate the workforce.The change began in Dec 2025, when the company-owned and company-operated (COCO) outlet was taken over by dealer Azha Roshan. She decided to bring more women into a field traditionally dominated by men, seeing the job as an opportunity for financial independence and professional growth. Today, 15 of the station’s 28 employees are women. Azha believes the move has worked well for everyone involved. “Customers respond positively. Many say the presence of women staff has brought more discipline and courtesy to the station,” she says. The workplace culture, she adds, was professional and supportive, with employees receiving stable incomes and benefits such as PF contributions.The fuel station is also focusing on employee well-being. As part of the International Women’s Day celebrations Sunday, it plans to host a menstrual health awareness session in collaboration with a menstrual cup initiative. For the women working here, the job is more than just filling petrol tanks. It represents a step into spaces where women were once rarely seen — and a reminder that empowerment sometimes arrives not through grand gestures, but through everyday opportunities.Station employees speakGayathri S It was tough at the beginning as we were all learning how to hold the pump, calculate the money, and handle cash payments. But I’m an expert now. Handling money has made us very alert in our duty. Even if we get tired standing at the bunk continuously for eight hours, we stay focused on our workPavitra I take pride in doing work which is dominated by men. Sometimes, we do come across customers who get angry quickly or try to start a fight. But we understand that they might be dealing with something we may not know about. I always try to speak softly and resolve the issue instead of arguingKaveri (youngest employee)I’ve just completed college and started working here because I couldn’t continue my studies. This is my first job, and it has given me immense confidence that I can build my own life
