Odisha Govt Reiterates Zero-Tolerance on Safety at AMA Bus Operators’ Review Meet

Bhubaneswar: Reaffirming the Government of Odisha’s unwavering commitment to road safety, a comprehensive AMA Bus Operators’ Review Meeting on Road Safety was held in January 2026 under the chairpersonship of Usha Padhee, Principal Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department. The review focused on strengthening safety governance, enforcing discipline among operators and crew, and leveraging technology to minimise road accidents while ensuring safe and reliable public transport services across the State.

Emphasising a clear “Safety First” approach, the Principal Secretary said passenger safety is non-negotiable and any compromise would invite strict and immediate action. A detailed assessment of operational status, manpower deployment, training coverage and accident data was carried out during the meeting. Accident analysis for 2025, covering fatal, major and minor incidents, was examined in depth. Officials noted that in cases where driver fault was established, stringent disciplinary and statutory measures—including termination, suspension, de-rostering and sharing of driving licence details with the concerned RTOs—have already been initiated, underscoring the State’s zero-tolerance stance towards unsafe driving.

The review placed strong emphasis on the adoption of technology-enabled safety systems. The meeting highlighted plans to introduce Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and Driver Fatigue Monitoring Systems (DFMS) to enable real-time monitoring, improve driver alertness and reduce collision risks. Proof-of-concept trials for these systems have been completed, and steps are underway for their wider rollout across the AMA bus fleet.

The importance of a stringent alcohol testing regime was also reiterated. Hundreds of tests are being conducted daily, with strict action taken against crew members found under the influence of alcohol. Operators were further directed to ensure strict compliance with traffic rules, lane discipline and speed limits, along with regulated duty hours to prevent fatigue-related risks.

The Principal Secretary stressed that newly recruited drivers must be deployed only after mandatory training at the Institute of Driving Training and Research (IDTR) and route familiarisation. Continuous capacity-building programmes on defensive driving, electric bus operations, first aid and emergency response were also emphasised as essential for improving overall safety standards.

The meeting was attended by Managing Director, CRUT Shri Sanjay Biswal, GM, CRUT Sahadev Samadhia, senior officers from the department and representatives of AMA Bus operators.

Concluding the review, the Government reiterated that technology-backed monitoring, strong enforcement and operator accountability will form the backbone of Odisha’s road safety strategy. The State, it said, remains committed to fostering a culture of responsible driving and safe mobility, ensuring that public transport systems are not only efficient but also secure and citizen-centric.