Bhubaneswar: 20 women drivers, holding valid Heavy Motor Vehicle (HMV) licences, successfully completed a 14-day advanced training programme in Pune and are all set to be inducted in Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT) Ama Bus services.
The flagship public transport system of the state government—CRUT’s Ama Bus service aims to promote women-led urban mobility and a gender-inclusive public transport roadmap.
Housing and Urban Development Additional Chief Secretary Usha Padhee said that before formal induction, the trained drivers will undergo an additional 15-day local driving practice and route familiarisation programme.
“Only after successful completion of field practice and assessment, the drivers will be inducted as a dedicated women crew to operate the Ama Bus services,” she said.
“This is not just about training women to drive buses. It is about enabling leadership, dignity and equal opportunity in public service.
These women will inspire many others to step forward,” she added.
The training was conducted at the OEM EKKA mobility plant, from February 2 to 14, sponsored and provided with technical support from GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit).
The programme focused on EV bus handling, safety protocols, advanced driving practices, and modern city bus operations, equipping the participants with hands-on professional exposure.
