Bhubaneswar: In the wake of a recent accident at Rupali Square in Bhubaneswar, a high-level review meeting on the safety, operation and management of Ama Bus services was held today on the instructions of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.
The meeting was chaired by Principal Secretary, Housing & Urban Development Department, Usha Padhee. Senior officials present included Transport Commissioner Amitabh Thakur, Managing Director of CRUT Sanjaya Biswal, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Bhubaneswar, Jagmohan Meena, and Traffic DCP.
Briefing the media after the meeting, Usha Padhee announced the constitution of a five-member high-level committee under her chairmanship to ensure stricter monitoring, improved operational discipline and enhanced safety of Ama Bus services. The committee comprises the Transport Commissioner, DCP, Traffic DCP and a senior CRUT officer.
The committee will meet once every 15 days to review operational performance, safety measures and passenger services, and may convene meetings at any time, if required, to address urgent issues.
She said that additional mini buses will be added to the Ama Bus fleet to improve operational efficiency and last-mile connectivity. She further stated that the driver recruitment process will be further tightened. Newly recruited drivers will undergo vigorous training, and before induction, a mandatory five-day evaluation and testing process will be conducted to assess driving skills, road safety awareness, lane discipline and behavioural standards.
A close watch on overall management will be maintained for the next one month to ensure strict compliance with safety and operational norms.
Terming yesterday’s incident as “deeply unfortunate,” Padhee said every possible step will be taken to prevent the recurrence of such incidents. An investigation into the incident is underway, and accountability will be fixed once the inquiry is completed.
To promote positive conduct, drivers and conductors demonstrating exemplary behaviour will be provided monthly incentives. It was also decided that the mechanical condition of all operational buses will be checked daily to ensure roadworthiness.
Sharing accident data, it was informed that from February to December 2025, seven persons lost their lives and 97 others were injured in Ama Bus-related accidents.
To strengthen traffic discipline, lane driving has been made compulsory for Ama Bus services. The Police and Traffic Police will monitor the movement of Ama Buses through the Smart City surveillance system.
