Bhubaneswar: Marking a new chapter in Odisha’s public transport system, the Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT) has completed the first phase of induction of women drivers for its AMA Bus services, signalling a strong push towards gender inclusion in urban mobility.
Under the initiative, 20 women drivers with valid Heavy Motor Vehicle (HMV) licences underwent intensive professional training in Pune and have now returned to the State, ready to begin the next phase of operational preparation before taking the wheel on city routes.
The 14-day advanced training programme, held from February 2 to 14, 2026, at the OEM EKKA Mobility plant in Pune, was conducted with sponsorship and technical support from GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit). The curriculum covered electric vehicle (EV) bus operations, safety protocols, advanced driving techniques and modern urban transport systems, offering hands-on exposure to contemporary public transport practices.
Additional Chief Secretary, Housing & Urban Development Department, Smt. Usha Padhee, said the drivers will now undergo a further 15-day local driving practice and route familiarisation exercise in Odisha. Their induction into regular AMA Bus services will follow a detailed performance assessment during this field training phase.
“This initiative goes beyond skills training. It is about empowering women, creating opportunities in public service, and setting new benchmarks for inclusive governance. These drivers will become catalysts for change in society,” she said.
The programme reflects the Government of Odisha’s commitment to developing a safe, inclusive and future-ready urban mobility ecosystem, while opening up new livelihood avenues for women in the public transport sector. CRUT plans to gradually expand the initiative to ensure wider participation of women across its operational framework.
