Bhubaneswar: In a major to expand urban transportation in Odisha, the ‘Ama Bus’ service will soon be extended to eight more places in the state. The service will be made available in Angul, Jharsuguda, Jajpur, Keonjhar, Baripada, Jeypore, Balasore, and Rayagada.
The announcement in this regard was made during the 49th Board Meeting of the Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT) held on Thursday.
The meeting was chaired by Anu Garg, Development Commissioner and Chairperson of CRUT. The board reviewed ongoing operations and outlined strategies to bolster safety, service quality, and accessibility across the state’s public transport network.
The meeting deliberated several transformative initiatives. To enhance commuter safety, CRUT introduced stringent speed limits: electric buses are capped at 35 km/h, while diesel buses are restricted to 40 km/h on city routes and 50 km/h on intercity highways.
Regular training programs focusing on safe driving, behavioral skills, electric bus handling, and first-aid practices have also been launched for crew members. Additionally, trials for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and dashboard cameras are underway, with 10 agencies installing devices in eight buses as a proof-of-concept.
An Accident Review Committee, in collaboration with the State Transport Authority, will now investigate all incidents and conduct monthly safety reviews.
Commuter support is being bolstered with the launch of a toll-free assistance number (18005700218), operational from 6 am to 10 pm.
Meanwhile, a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for hiring and training Captains and Guides will ensure professionalism and compliance with government standards, with all new captains required to complete training at the HMV Driving Training Institute before deployment.
CRUT also plans to extend its pass system—previously limited to the Capital Region—to other cities with Ama Bus services, including Rourkela, Sambalpur, and Berhampur.
In order to boost service quality, a Key Performance Indicator (KPI)-based incentive system will reward top-performing Captains and Guides for excellence in safety, passenger satisfaction, and operational efficiency across all depots in Odisha.
