Bhubaneswar: In a strategic move to improve the safety and efficiency of public transportation, Principal Secretary Usha Padhee reviewed the bus operations of the Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC) and Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT), Bhubaneswar, on Saturday.
The review meeting focused on strengthening safety rules to ensure strict compliance, including regular vehicle inspections, adherence to traffic rules, and close monitoring of driver behavior. It also emphasized the need for continuous training programs for drivers and staff to enhance their skills in safe driving, emergency response, and customer service. Additionally, there was encouragement to adopt advanced technologies such as GPS tracking, real-time monitoring systems, and digital ticketing to increase efficiency and improve passenger safety.
The meeting was attended by OSRTC Chief Managing Director (CMD) Diptesh Pattanaik, Transport Commissioner Amitav Thakur, CRUT Managing Director (MD) Dr. N. Thirumala Naik, Venkatesh Balsubramoniom from IITM, and other senior officials and stakeholders. They focused on reinforcing safety measures and modernizing operations.
During the meeting, Principal Secretary Usha Padhee emphasized the importance of a holistic approach, saying, “Ensuring the safety of passengers is our top priority. By focusing on enforcement, capacity building, and adopting modern technology, we aim to provide safe, reliable, and efficient public transportation services in Odisha.”
The review also discussed ways for OSRTC and CRUT to collaborate, share best practices, and make better use of resources. Principal Secretary Usha Padhee instructed the officials to speed up the implementation of the recommended measures and conduct regular evaluations to assess their effectiveness.
