Odisha Govt Reinforces Ama Bus Road Safety with Tech, Strict Enforcement

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

Emphasising a clear “Safety First” approach, the Principal Secretary said passenger safety is non-negotiable and warned that any compromise would invite strict and immediate action. A detailed review of operational status, manpower deployment, training coverage and accident data was undertaken. 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 actions—including termination, suspension, de-rostering and sharing of driving licence details with the concerned Regional Transport Offices (RTOs)—have already been initiated, reinforcing the State’s zero-tolerance stance towards unsafe driving practices.

A major highlight of the review was the adoption of technology-enabled safety systems. The meeting discussed the planned induction of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and Driver Fatigue Monitoring Systems (DFMS) for real-time monitoring to enhance 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 robust alcohol testing regime was also reiterated, with officials stating that hundreds of tests are being conducted daily and strict action is taken against crew members found under the influence of alcohol.

The Principal Secretary further directed operators to ensure strict compliance with traffic rules, lane discipline and speed limits, along with regulated duty hours to prevent fatigue-related risks. It was reiterated that newly recruited drivers must be deployed only after mandatory Institute of Driving Training and Research (IDTR) training and route familiarisation. Continuous capacity-building programmes on defensive driving, electric bus operations, first aid and emergency response were also stressed.

The meeting was attended by Managing Director, CRUT, Sanjay Biswal; General Manager, CRUT, Sahadev Samadhia; senior officers of the department; and representatives of Ama Bus operators.

Concluding the review, the State Government said technology-backed monitoring, strong enforcement and operator accountability would form the backbone of Odisha’s road safety strategy, underscoring its commitment to building a culture of responsible driving and safe, citizen-centric public transport.