Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government is preparing to completely phase out diesel-powered buses under its flagship Ama Bus service and replace them with electric vehicles (EVs), Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mohapatra said on Wednesday. The move marks a major push towards sustainable urban mobility and reduced carbon emissions in the state.
The Minister said all existing diesel buses will be scrapped in a phased manner, while new electric buses will be inducted so that, in the coming years, only EVs operate under the Ama Bus network. “Our goal is to ensure that Ama Bus becomes a fully electric public transport service,” Mohapatra said.
The transition is in line with Odisha’s broader commitment to clean and green transport, reflected in recent initiatives such as the flagging off of EKA 9M electric buses by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. At present, more than 220 electric buses are already operating under the Ama Bus service across 113 routes, covering nearly 1,399 km. The government has also set ambitious targets to further expand the fleet, including the induction of around 600 new electric buses under central schemes such as PM-eBus Sewa and PM E-Drive.
Focus on Safety, Inclusivity and Capacity Building
Highlighting inclusivity as a key pillar of the Ama Bus programme, Mohapatra said the government plans to induct women drivers to improve employment opportunities and enhance safety for women commuters. “Twenty women candidates from CRUT will be sent to Pune on January 31 for specialised training in e-bus driving,” he informed, adding that the state is also considering operating 5–10 special all-women Ama Bus services, subject to approval by the Chief Minister.
To strengthen driver skills and safety standards, a dedicated driver training institute will be set up at the CRUT depot. The institute will provide structured training on practical driving, traffic rules, lane discipline, road safety and behavioural aspects.
The Minister also underlined strict enforcement of safety norms, particularly to curb drunk driving. Mandatory alcohol testing has been enforced for all Ama Bus drivers, with checks conducted at the start and end of trips as well as through random inspections. Over the past year, around 1.97 lakh alcohol tests have been conducted, of which 19 drivers tested positive. “They were arrested and their driving licences were suspended for three months as per the law,” Mohapatra said.
Compensation and Service Expansion
Mohapatra said CRUT has extended immediate compassionate assistance to families of accident victims and has provided insurance compensation exceeding ₹4 crore to the families of those who lost their lives in road accidents involving Ama Buses.
The government is also fast-tracking the expansion of Ama Bus services to new cities, including Baripada, Keonjhar and Angul. Addressing recent concerns such as incidents of vehicle fires, the Minister said older buses are being scrapped and smaller electric buses are being introduced to improve safety and last-mile connectivity.
With a clear roadmap for electrification, safety reforms and inclusive employment, the Odisha government aims to position Ama Bus as a modern, reliable and environmentally responsible urban transport system.