Amid Resentment Among Mo Bus Commuters, CRUT To Induct 200 E-Vehicles In Bhubaneswar & Train Staff

Bhubaneswar: The Mo Bus service in Bhubaneswar has come under scrutiny with commuters alleging reduced route frequency and misconduct by conductors. This has led to growing dissatisfaction among passengers who rely on Mo Bus.

Senior officials of Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT), which operates Mo Bus fleet, admitted that they have been receiving complaints from passengers. While dismissing the allegation of cut in route frequency, they maintained that steps are being taken to further improve the service by adding more buses to the fleet.

“For two years, I’ve been taking the Mo Bus on Route 19 from Puri Canal Road to Cuttack, and I’ve never had to wait 45 minutes just to catch the Number 19 bus. It’s frustrating and stressful, causing us to reach our workplace late,” claimed a commuter.

Suhana Sharma, a student at KIIT University and a daily commuter on Mo Bus Route 11, claimed, “The behaviour of conductors has become unbearable. Recently, when I didn’t have the exact change for a 10-rupee ticket and offered a 20-rupee note, the conductor refused, claiming they had no change. Even suggesting online payment was dismissed despite of having online transaction accessibility.”

Furthermore, despite the availability of online payment options, passengers claim that conductors persistently demand a specific amount for the ticket, refusing any alternative payment mode. This refusal to adapt to modern payment solutions worsens the inconvenience faced by passengers, they say.

“The Mo bus service, once a reliable means of transportation in the city, is now facing criticism for its decreasing service standards. The reported behaviour of conductors reflects poorly on the overall quality of the service provided,” said Abhishek Senapati, an IT company employee.

Speaking on inconveniences faced by passengers, CRUT General Manager Sanjay Biswal said there have been complaints regarding misbehaviour and frequency through X (previously Twitter) and mails. “However, regarding frequency, I disagree that we have reduced it. Traffic must be the reason for some busy routes. The addition of E-buses has increased the frequency, and we plan to launch an additional 200 E-buses by May 2024.”

“Although it will take time for the mechanism to be in place, it will ultimately enhance route frequency” He added.

He said conductors work tirelessly for 8 to 9 hours daily without breaks, which can lead to frustration and misbehaviour sometimes. “We’ve recently conducted counselling sessions for conductors and, for the last 15 days we have implemented training via Tata Strive TCIT to promote professionalism among the crew members,” he said.

CRUT’s Operations Manager Jayant Kumar, said, “To address commuter concerns, CRUT partnered with Odisha Skill Development Authority (OSDA) and Tata Strive (TCIT) by signing an MoU to train crew members in capacity building and professionalism. Our vision is to redefine ‘The Way We Move,’ ensuring excellence and continuous improvement in the system. CRUT, committed to a sustainable future, expands public transit by integrating multimodal alternatives.”

He said 298 crew members have been trained in behavioural and communication skills, physical and mental well-being, financial literacy, teamwork.