Odisha’s First Woman E-Bus Driver Breaks Gender Barriers in Kendujhar

Bhubaneswar: Shubhalakshmi Mahananda is driving change on the roads of Kendujhar, one bus journey at a time. Recognised as Odisha’s first woman electric bus driver, she is challenging traditional gender roles in the transport sector while contributing to the state’s shift towards cleaner public mobility.

An electric-bus driver with Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT), Shubhalakshmi operates an Ama Bus from the dedicated depot in Kendujhar, where the district currently has a fleet of 25 electric buses. Her presence behind the wheel challenges the long-standing perception that driving passenger buses is a profession meant primarily for men.

Operating a passenger bus requires technical skills, alertness, discipline and a strong sense of responsibility for the safety of passengers. Driving an electric bus also requires familiarity with its operating systems and specific requirements. Through specialised training and practical experience, Shubhalakshmi has taken on these responsibilities in a sector where women remain underrepresented.

Her achievement goes beyond being the first woman to enter this particular role in Odisha. It highlights the importance of opening up employment opportunities in traditionally male-dominated occupations and ensuring that professional choices are not restricted by gender-based assumptions.

Kendujhar’s expanding electric-bus network provides the backdrop to her journey. With 25 electric buses and a dedicated Ama Bus depot, the district reflects the growing reach of cleaner public transport beyond the state’s larger urban centres. Electric buses can help reduce tailpipe emissions and local air pollution, while offering an alternative to conventional fuel-powered public transport.

When the transition to cleaner mobility also creates opportunities for women, its impact extends beyond environmental benefits. It can help widen access to employment, challenge workplace stereotypes and encourage more women to consider careers that may previously have seemed out of reach.

Shubhalakshmi’s story also comes at a time when accessibility, sustainability and inclusion are becoming important themes in India’s urban transport planning. Bhubaneswar is set to host the 19th Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference and Expo 2026 on October 23 and 24, becoming the first city in eastern India to host the event. This year’s theme, “Urban Accessibility & Liveability in the Digital Age,” will focus attention on how transport systems can better meet people’s everyday needs.

While discussions on the future of mobility often centre on electric vehicles, digital technology and infrastructure, the people operating and using these systems are equally important. Public transport is not only about moving passengers efficiently; it also supports livelihoods and can create opportunities for people from different backgrounds.

The presence of a woman at the wheel can also influence how younger women view their own career choices. Seeing women in roles traditionally occupied by men can help challenge stereotypes and make such professions appear more accessible to the next generation.

From a depot in Kendujhar, Shubhalakshmi’s journey carries a message that extends beyond the district. It shows how individual participation can challenge established ideas about gender and work while becoming part of a wider shift in public transport.

As Odisha expands its cleaner mobility initiatives, her story highlights another dimension of progress: ensuring that the transition is not only about adopting new technology, but also about widening opportunities for people to participate in and benefit from the changing transport sector.