Bhubaneswar: A State-Level Steering Committee meeting on Mukhyamantri Bus Seva (MBS) was held today at Kharavel Bhawan under the chairpersonship of Usha Padhee, Principal Secretary, Commerce & Transport Department, Government of Odisha, to review ongoing reforms and outline the next phase of strengthening the State’s flagship public transport programme.
The meeting reviewed a series of policy and operational interventions aimed at improving service efficiency, ensuring affordability, and enhancing last-mile connectivity across urban and rural areas of Odisha.
Key deliberations included the engagement of Women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) under MBS, with SHG conductors playing an important role in strengthening service delivery while advancing women-led livelihoods; ticket fare revisions and passenger concessions to balance affordability with financial sustainability; and the continuation of free bus travel for students, reaffirming the State Government’s commitment to equitable access to education and mobility.
The Steering Committee also examined the need to reorient institutional mechanisms to enhance coordination, monitoring, and accountability; rationalisation of MBS routes to optimise coverage, minimise overlaps, and improve operational efficiency; and rationalisation of GCC rates for PPP operators under MBS to ensure operational viability while safeguarding public interest.
Chairing the meeting, Usha Padhee emphasised the importance of reorganising bus routes based on district-level inputs to improve connectivity to key public institutions such as schools, hospitals, and other essential services. She also underscored the need to further strengthen the involvement of Mission Shakti and Women SHGs in service delivery, reiterating that Mukhyamantri Bus Seva remains a cornerstone of Odisha’s vision for accessible, safe, and sustainable public transport for all.
The Committee further reviewed the overall performance and future roadmap of Mukhyamantri Bus Seva, with an emphasis on strengthening public transport as a reliable, inclusive, and people-centric mobility solution across the State.
The meeting was attended by Soumendra Priyadarshi, ADG, OPH & WC; Amitabh Thakur, Transport Commissioner; N.B.S. Rajput, CMD, OSRTC; Girish S.N., Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Mission Shakti Department; and Sanjay Biswal, GM, OSRTC, along with other senior officials from concerned departments.
The deliberations concluded with directions to expedite the identified reforms and ensure coordinated implementation at both State and field levels, thereby further strengthening the reach and impact of Mukhyamantri Bus Seva across Odisha.
