Bhubaneswar: In a significant move towards inclusive and safer public transport, Housing and Urban Development (H&UD) Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra on Tuesday announced that women drivers will soon operate the AMA Bus Service across Odisha. The announcement was made during a high-level review meeting chaired by the Minister to assess the performance and operations of the state-run public transport system.
Senior officials, including Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT) Managing Director Sanjay Biswal, General Manager Sahadeva Samadhiya, Special Duty Officer Pallavi Behera and other departmental officers, were present at the meeting, which focused on improving operational efficiency, passenger safety and service delivery.
Stressing the importance of women’s safety and employment, Mahapatra said that 20 women candidates from CRUT will be sent to Pune on January 31 for specialised training in operating electric buses. He said the induction of women drivers would not only promote gender inclusion but also strengthen public confidence in the AMA Bus Service.
The Minister placed strong emphasis on passenger safety, noting that alcohol consumption remains one of the major causes of road accidents. He informed that alcohol testing has been made mandatory for all AMA bus drivers. Over the past one year, 1.97 lakh alcohol tests have been conducted through checks at the beginning and end of trips, along with random inspections during operational hours. Nineteen drivers were found positive during these tests and, as per legal provisions, were arrested by the police. Their driving licences were suspended for three months and forwarded to the respective Regional Transport Officers.
Highlighting CRUT’s role as a pioneering government-run public transport organisation, Mahapatra said the agency has extended immediate compassionate assistance to the families of accident victims. He added that insurance coverage exceeding ₹4 crore has been provided to families of those who lost their lives in road accidents.
To further strengthen driver skills and road safety, the Minister announced that a dedicated driver training institute will soon be set up at the CRUT depot premises. The proposed institute will focus on practical driving skills, behavioural training, traffic regulations, lane discipline and road safety practices.
Mahapatra also directed officials to expedite the ongoing expansion of AMA Bus Services in Baripada, Keonjhar and Angul, stating that improved public transport connectivity in these regions would play a crucial role in enhancing urban mobility across the State.
