Bhubaneswar: Reaffirming the Government of Odisha’s unwavering commitment to road safety, a comprehensive Ama Bus Operators’ Review Meeting on Road Safety was held in January 2026 under the chairpersonship of Usha Padhee, Principal Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department. The review focused on strengthening safety governance, enforcing discipline among operators and crew, and leveraging technology to minimise road accidents and ensure safe, reliable public transport services across the State.
Principal Secretary emphasised a clear “Safety First” approach, stating that passenger safety is non-negotiable and any compromise will attract strict and immediate action. A detailed review of operational status, manpower deployment, training coverage and accident data was undertaken. Accident analysis for 2025, including fatal, major and minor incidents, was examined in depth, and it was noted that wherever driver fault was established, stringent disciplinary and statutory actions—such as termination, suspension, de-rostering and sharing of driving licence details with concerned RTOs—have already been initiated, reinforcing a zero-tolerance stance towards unsafe driving practices.
A major focus of the review was the adoption of technology-enabled safety systems. The meeting highlighted the planned inclusion of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and Driver Fatigue Monitoring Systems (DFMS) to support real-time monitoring, enhance driver alertness and reduce collision risks. Proof-of-concept trials for these systems have been completed, and steps are being taken for wider rollout across the bus fleet. In parallel, the importance of a robust alcohol testing regime was reiterated, with hundreds of tests being conducted daily and strict action taken against crew members found under the influence of alcohol.
Principal Secretary also directed operators to ensure strict compliance with traffic rules, lane discipline and speed limits, along with regulated duty hours to prevent fatigue-related risks. It was reiterated that newly recruited drivers must be deployed only after mandatory IDTR training and route familiarisation, and continuous capacity-building programmes on defensive driving, electric bus operations, first aid and emergency response must be sustained.
Among others MD, CRUT Sanjay Biswal, GM CRUT Sahadev Samadhia, senior officers from the Department & representatives from Ama Bus operators attended the meating.
Concluding the review, the Government reiterated that technology-backed monitoring, strong enforcement and operator accountability will form the backbone of Odisha’s road safety strategy. The State remains committed to building a culture of responsible driving and safe mobility, ensuring that public transport systems are not only efficient but also secure and citizen-centric.
