Bhubaneswar: For a student heading to college, a worker reaching the office or a family travelling to a hospital, dependable public transport makes an immediate difference. Odisha’s efforts to improve those everyday journeys have now earned three national honours at the 19th Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference and Exhibition 2026, held in Bhubaneswar on 23–24 October.
The event brought together policymakers, international experts and urban mobility leaders, alongside exhibitors representing government agencies, metro rail organisations and public and private sector innovators. Dedicated pavilions by CRUT and the German international cooperation agency GIZ added to the global exchange of ideas while showcasing Odisha’s cultural identity. In a first for the State, Bhubaneswar hosted both UMI and the National Urban Conclave (NUC), with CRUT playing a central hosting and coordination role for the Government of Odisha. The events were organised by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs with the State Government’s support.
At the valedictory session on 24 October, Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs and Power Manohar Lal presented the awards. Dignitaries on the dais included Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Odisha; Usha Padhee, Additional Chief Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department; Satinder Pal Singh, Secretary, MoHUA; Praveer Kumar, Joint Secretary, MoHUA; and Md. Sadique Alam, Managing Director, CRUT, among other senior officials.
Best Urban Transport Reforms and Implementation
Odisha received the Commendation Award for State/UT with Best Urban Transport Reforms and Implementations, recognising its progress towards a connected public mobility system. CRUT today operates 770 buses across 138 routes in seven cities, carrying around 3.5 lakh passengers daily. Behind these numbers are journeys to schools, workplaces, markets and hospitals that depend on accessible, affordable transport.
The approach goes beyond the bus itself: Ama Bus links with e-rickshaws, electric feeder services and digital mobility options such as Odisha Yatri to address first- and last-mile connectivity. Digital ticketing and integrated planning seek to make the whole journey more convenient, while women Guides, Sarathis and Captains reflect widening opportunities in the mobility workforce.
Excellence in Green Transport
Bhubaneswar, represented by Comprehensive Region Urban Transport (CRUT), won the Excellence Award for City with the Best Green Transport Initiative. In two years, electric buses have risen from about 20 per cent to more than 52 per cent of the fleet, with over 50 routes running entirely on electricity. For commuters, the transition points towards quieter journeys and cleaner urban air.
Sustainability extends to CRUT’s green depots, with rooftop solar power, rainwater harvesting, treated-water reuse and energy-efficient facilities. CRUT estimates that solar generation avoids roughly 200 tonnes of CO2-equivalent emissions each year, while nearly 50,000 kilolitres of treated water are reused annually.
CRUT Pavilion Wins Best Exhibition
CRUT’s pavilion secured first prize for Best Exhibition by turning Odisha’s public transport story into an engaging visitor experience. Interactive displays charted its evolution across seven cities, with digital ticketing, electric mobility, a bus-driving simulator and a mobility quiz drawing attention. The pavilion also celebrated women Guides, Sarathis and Captains, and presented future ideas including transit-oriented development, regional mobility integration, AI-enabled scheduling and route rationalisation. Beyond the awards, the goal is to make better everyday journeys for Odisha’s citizens.
The honours reflect a wider effort to make daily travel cleaner, better connected and more accessible. Their ultimate value will be measured at Odisha’s bus stops and in the everyday journeys of the people CRUT serves.
The three honours are an important milestone, but the real measure of success lies in the experience of each commuter. CRUT will continue to work towards journeys that are convenient, seamless, affordable and safe—connecting people not only to destinations, but also to education, employment, healthcare, shopping and the many opportunities that cities offer. By strengthening public transport and its links with other mobility services, CRUT aims to make the city easier to access, easier to navigate and more inclusive for everyone.
The recognition belongs to the collective effort of the Government of Odisha, the Housing and Urban Development Department, CRUT’s teams and mobility partners. The endeavour will continue with renewed commitment: to make every journey count, connect lives to opportunities, and help Odisha’s cities grow through accessible, reliable and sustainable public transport.
