Bhubaneswar: Comprehensive Region Urban Transport (CRUT) on Wednesday announced free bus travel for all women commuters across its AMA Bus services on August 27, on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan.
The single-day offer will be valid across Bhubaneswar, Kataka, Puri, Raurkela, Sambalpur, Brahmapur, and Kendujhar. Transport authorities estimate that nearly 100,000 women commuters will benefit from the scheme throughout the festival.
The initiative aims to support women’s mobility while reinforcing public transport safety across major urban centres in Odisha. “Raksha Bandhan is a celebration of protection and care. Through this fare-free travel initiative, CRUT reaffirms its commitment to providing every woman with safe, reliable, and dignified mobility. We invite women across Odisha’s operational cities to celebrate the festival by choosing AMA Bus and experiencing a secure, comfortable, and convenient journey,” CRUT said in a release.
It further noted that the move aligns with the broader spirit of Raksha Bandhan as a celebration of protection and care, extending that concept to safe and dignified public transit. The measure also complements ongoing state initiatives, such as the Subhadra Yojana, designed to facilitate women’s participation in economic, social, and family activities by reducing travel expenses.
The AMA Bus network features modern safety measures, including GPS tracking, CCTV surveillance, and trained staff, which officials highlighted as key components in fostering secure travel for women. Authorities also noted that increased public transit use during the holiday will help alleviate urban traffic congestion and lower vehicle emissions.
To ensure accurate passenger tracking, CRUT has instructed women commuters to collect a mandatory zero-ticket upon boarding.
