Bhubaneswar : A high-level committee meeting on the operations of AMA Bus service was held today at the CRUT office under the chairmanship of Principal Secretary, Housing & Urban Development Department, Smt. Usha Padhi. The meeting focused on strengthening road safety, enhancing passenger convenience, and the overall skill development and welfare of drivers.
The committee laid special emphasis on ensuring the safety of road users, particularly in view of increasing heavy vehicle traffic. Passenger-friendly services and systematic monitoring of bus operations were also reviewed.
Transport Commissioner Shri Amitabh Thakur, Managing Director, CRUT Shri Sanjay Biswal, DCP, Commissionerate Police, and Traffic DCP were present during the meeting.
It was informed that the speed limits of AMA Bus vehicles were closely monitored during the first two weeks of January, and no instances of speed violations were reported.
The committee also discussed improved bus accommodation and management at bus stops.
To strengthen driver training, e-buses will be provided to the Institute of Driving Training & Research (IDTR). Drivers will be able to undergo practical driving training daily within the training premises. For this purpose, multi-charging infrastructure is planned at Chhatia, Berhampur, and Bonai (Sundargarh), which will also provide charging facilities for private EVs and government vehicles. The public will be able to access four-wheeler EV charging facilities at these locations.
An incentive scheme for captains and guides will be implemented from January 26.
Incentives will be disbursed quarterly, based on comprehensive evaluations of safe driving practices and overall performance.
Public participation in AMA Bus route planning & services will commence from February, allowing citizens to share suggestions and feedback on route changes through social media platforms.
The duration of driver training programs has been extended from three days to five days, enabling more extensive heavy motor vehicle driving practice. Enhanced focus will be placed on psychometric tests, inhibitors, lane discipline, and self-assessment. Additionally, simulators will be introduced in training schools for specialized e-bus driving training.
In line with passenger safety and environmental sustainability, 30 old BPTCL buses that have completed over 1.5 lakh kilometers will be scrapped. In their place, small e-buses will be introduced in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack to improve last-mile connectivity.
The meeting also revealed that a high-level committee under the chairmanship of Smt. Usha Padhi has been constituted to review AMA Bus operations every 15 days, ensuring continuous monitoring and improvement.
