CRUT Inducts Women Drivers for AMA Bus Services, Marks Milestone in Women-Led Urban Mobility

Bhubaneswar: Breaking traditional barriers in the public transport sector, the Government of Odisha has taken a significant step towards empowering women by inducting women drivers into the AMA Bus services operated by the Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT). The initiative marks a major push towards gender-inclusive urban mobility and aims to create new livelihood opportunities for women in the state’s public transport system.

As part of the first phase of the initiative, 20 women drivers possessing valid Heavy Motor Vehicle (HMV) licences have been selected for advanced professional training in Pune. The selected candidates departed for Pune by flight on Tuesday to undergo specialised training focused on modern city bus operations.

Before their departure, the women drivers were felicitated by Minister for Housing & Urban Development Dr. Krushna Chandra Mahapatra and Principal Secretary, Housing & Urban Development Department, Smt. Usha Padhee. The dignitaries extended their best wishes and encouraged the trainees to successfully complete the programme and emerge as role models in the public transport sector.

The 14-day advanced training programme will be conducted from February 2 to February 15, 2026, at the OEM EKKA Mobility plant in Pune, with sponsorship and technical support from GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit). The training will focus on electric vehicle (EV) bus handling, advanced driving techniques, safety protocols and operational excellence. The trainees are scheduled to return to Bhubaneswar on February 17, 2026.

Managing Director, CRUT, Shri Sanjaya Biswal, and General Manager Shri Sahadev Samadhia, along with other senior officials, were present at the felicitation ceremony held at the third-floor conference hall of Kharabela Bhawan. They encouraged the participants and reiterated CRUT’s commitment to skill development, gender inclusion and strengthening urban public transport services in the Capital Region.