The Odisha Transport Department has formed a high-level five-member committee to bolster operational discipline, safety monitoring, and service quality for the state-run ‘Ama Bus’ network, officials said on Sunday.
This move follows a tragic accident involving an Ama Bus that claimed the life of an autorickshaw driver, prompting Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to demand more rigorous oversight of the public transport system.
Usha Padhee, Principal Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, will chair the committee. Other members include Transport Commissioner Amitabh Thakur, Bhubaneswar DCP Jagmohan Meena, the Traffic DCP, and a senior representative from Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT).
Padhee, briefing the media after the meeting, stated that the panel will meet every 15 days to review safety and performance, with the flexibility to convene emergency sessions for urgent matters.
#ଆମବସ୍ ଯାତ୍ରୀଙ୍କ ସୁରକ୍ଷା ବଜାୟ ରଖିବା ପାଇଁ ପ୍ରମୁଖ ଶାସନ ସଚିବ ଶ୍ରୀମତୀ @ushapadhee1996 ଙ୍କ ଅଧ୍ୟକ୍ଷତାରେ ହୋଇଥିବା ଗୁରୁତ୍ୱପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ବୈଠକରେ ନୂତନ ସୁରକ୍ଷା ରୋଡମ୍ୟାପ୍, ଆମବସ୍ ଚାଳକମାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ପ୍ରଶିକ୍ଷଣ, ବସଗୁଡ଼ିକର ନିୟମିତ ଫିଟନେସ୍ ଯାଞ୍ଚ ଏବଂ ନୂତନ SOP ଅନ୍ତର୍ଭୁକ୍ତ କରିବା ଉପରେ ଗୁରୁତ୍ୱାରୋପ କରାଯାଇଛି। pic.twitter.com/oki4Q7OmeN
— H & UD Dept (@HUDDeptOdisha) January 4, 2026
To prevent future tragedies, the committee is overhauling the driver recruitment process. New recruits will now face a mandatory five-day rigorous evaluation and testing phase. This assessment will specifically target driving proficiency, road safety awareness, lane discipline, and behavioural standards.
Furthermore, the government will maintain intensive surveillance over the system’s management for the next month to ensure total compliance with safety protocols.
While an investigation into the recent fatal accident is ongoing to fix accountability, Padhee also announced plans to expand the “Ama Bus” fleet with additional mini-buses to enhance last-mile connectivity.
Addressing safety concerns, she revealed that between February and December 2025, accidents involving the city bus service resulted in seven fatalities and 97 injuries.
