Latest news with #AmaBus
Time of India
14 hours ago
- Time of India
Frequent Ama Bus accidents raises concern over road safety
1 2 Bhubaneswar: A serious concern has been raised over the safety of commuters and pedestrians amid back-to-back accidents caused by Mo Bus, rebranded as Ama Bus, operated by Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT) in the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. In a recent incident, a person travelling from Bhubaneswar to Cuttack died near Barang Block square in Cuttack after being run over by a speeding Ama Bus on Monday evening. The deceased was identified as Subhendu Parida, a resident of Rani Haat. In May, an old man walking on the road was first struck and then dragged by an Ama Bus at Khandagiri Square, resulting in the man's death on the spot. The driver fled the scene while the irate locals vandalised the bus involved in the fatal incident. The frequency of these accidents has triggered a debate among people about the safety of both motorists and pedestrians on the roads due to dangerous and alleged rash driving by the Ama Bus drivers in the twin city. The concern grows further since the accidents are recurring despite special initiatives by CRUT, such as periodical awareness sessions for the staff on road safety protocols, daily morning safety oath-taking by the drivers, and installation of CCTVs and speed governors on the buses. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like If you have a mouse, play this game for 1 minute Navy Quest Undo "The sight of an Ama Bus on the road is instilling fear in the mind nowadays. It is a feeling like one will never know when one will be crushed under one such bus. The frequency of the accidents despite the measures is really concerning," said Mahamaya Jena, Sailashree Vihar resident. Jena, a daily rider of Ama Bus, now says that she prefers not to ride on such buses anymore. Patia resident Jitendra Sahoo, who witnessed an accident involving an Ama Bus on Jaydev Vihar–Nandankanan Road, recalled that the driver was at fault. "The bus literally ran over a woman crossing the road near District Centre. I saw her hand was amputated. It was a horrible scene. I think that the authorities are taking steps, but the drivers and staff are somehow unable to adhere to those," Sahoo said. CRUT, the operator of Ama Buses, though has not issued any official statement on the Monday evening incident, has assured through other social media posts that such incidents will be investigated with seriousness and action will be taken accordingly.
Time of India
21-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Counselling sessions, road safety pledge for Crut crew
1 2 Bhubaneswar: In a bid to bolster road safety, Capital Region Urban Transport (Crut), which operates the Ama Bus services, has ramped up its 'Zero Accident Day' plans. The initiative focuses on daily counselling sessions and the administration of road safety pledge across all its depots and operational terminals. The efforts aim to sensitise crew members on safe driving practices, reinforce their responsibilities and foster a culture of accountability and care on the roads. Housing and urban development department's principal secretary Usha Padhee visited Crut's Naraj depot on Saturday, where she interacted with the crew members and administered the road safety pledge, urging them to uphold the highest standards of service. "Safety begins with us. As frontline service providers, Crut crew members carry the trust of thousands of citizens every day. Let us pledge to ensure that every journey is not just timely, but safe and dependable," she said. The sensitisation and awareness session holds significance, especially following the introduction of 100 new e-buses to its existing fleet, flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday. With the additions, Crut has decided to operate the buses on eight new routes. Padhee also emphasised the message of 'Come Home Safe', highlighting the importance of not only passenger safety but also the well-being of crew members and their families. She encouraged the staff to deliver services that inspire confidence and trust among commuters. The 'Zero Accident Day' campaign aims to significantly reduce road accidents, improve driving discipline, and enhance the overall commuting experience in the capital region. "Crut remains committed to providing safe, reliable, and inclusive public transport while ensuring the safety of its workforce and the public it serves," a statement from Crut read.
Time of India
20-06-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Modi flags off 100 new electric buses for city
1 2 3 Bhubaneswar: In a move towards a modern, eco-friendly mobility network, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday flagged off 100 new electric buses under the Capital Region Urban Transport (Crut). The PM inaugurated the new buses during his visit to the city to mark one-year anniversary of the BJP govt in Odisha. The new additions increased the number of e-buses under Crut in the capital city to about 150. The capital city is steadily improving infrastructure supporting EVs with the introduction of a new public charging station at Vani Vihar Square recently. Besides, the Crut has also been developing exclusive bus depots equipped with EV infrastructure. With the new additions on Friday, Crut is likely to increase the number of routes covering more distant parts of the city as well as Cuttack and Puri. Besides the e-buses, Crut operates about 400 buses which run on conventional fuel. "There is a growing demand for public buses in the city. Looking at the need and demand, we have strengthened our fleet. The new and upcoming addition to the fleet will predominantly be e-buses only," a Crut spokesperson said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo He said the additions took the total number of buses under Crut to about 510. "There are 58 routes where Ama buses are plying now. We will be adding a few new routes with the new buses," added the spokesperson. The Ama Bus (earlier called Mo Bus) services have gained immense popularity in quick time. From daily ridership of a few thousand in the initial days, it has gone up to 2.16 lakh in Bhubaneswar alone. Looking at the demand, the state govt increased the fleet with new EV buses as well as routes covering more parts of the city. It also introduced Ama Bus service in Rourkela in 2023. It later expanded the service to cities like Berhampur and Sampalpur.
New Indian Express
14-06-2025
- Automotive
- New Indian Express
Odisha to expand e-bus network, launch Ama Bus service in five new cities
BHUBANESWAR: Going ahead with its plan of promoting green and sustainable public transport in urban areas, the state government will launch electric buses (e-buses) under Ama Bus service in five more cities and further expand the service in Berhampur city. It has initiated the procurement of 200 more e-buses for the purpose. Officials in Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT), that manages the Ama Bus service, said the e-buses will be introduced in Keonjhar, Baripada, Angul, Jharsuguda and Sambalpur, while the existing fleet of e-buses under Ama Bus service in Berhampur will be increased. The e-bus service is available in the Capital region and Berhampur at present. 'Tender has been invited recently for the introduction of 200 more electric buses under Ama Bus service. The service will start in the identified cities once the procurement process is complete,' said CRUT managing director N Thirumala Naik. CRUT has planned to purchase medium-sized electric buses for expansion of its e-bus service. The agency has decided to purchase 50 e-buses each for Berhampur and Sambalpur and 25 e-buses each for Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Angul and Jharsuguda. The fresh procurement will increase CRUT's existing Ama Bus fleet from 560 to 760. The e-bus fleet will also go up from 180 to 380. With Berhampur already having 20 e-buses, the fresh procurement will take the number of e-bus fleet in the city to 70. Officials said the bus operator to be finalised for procurement, operation and maintenance of these buses, will be engaged for at least a decade. Apart from the 200 e-buses, they will also be managing 400 e-buses soon under the PM-eBus Sewa scheme. Under the scheme, the Housing and Urban Development (H&UD) department plans to run at least 100 e-buses each in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Rourkela and 50 in Sambalpur. They added that implementation of the proposal has been delayed owing to legal hurdles and is expected to be implemented soon after the matter is resolved. The Centre will procure and handover the e-buses to CRUT under the scheme. Sustainable urban mobility
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Govt plans to operate hydrogen buses in capital city
1 2 Bhubaneswar: In an effort towards sustainable public transportation, state govt is likely to introduce hydrogen-powered buses in the capital city, marking a pioneering step in its commitment to clean energy initiatives. Housing and urban development minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra announced that the department has signed an agreement with a leading green energy company to launch a trial run of hydrogen buses in Bhubaneswar. The initial phase will see three hydrogen-powered buses operating on various routes across the city. "We are starting with three buses in Bhubaneswar as a pilot project. A dedicated depot will be constructed to support the operations," Mahapatra told reporters on Saturday. He said that based on the success of the pilot plan, govt will plan to expand the service to other parts of the state. "The buses will be plying on different routes of the city soon and will provide a sustainable public transport option to riders," Mahapatra said. India's first green hydrogen fuel cell bus was showcased during the inaugural ceremony of India Energy Week, which was held in Goa in Feb last year. Later in Oct, housing and urban affairs minister Hardeep Singh Puri demonstrated the hydrogen bus fleet in New Delhi. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like One of the Most Successful Investors of All Time, Warren Buffett, Recommends: 5 Books for Turning... Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Click Here Undo The introduction of hydrogen buses aligns with Bhubaneswar's existing green public transport infrastructure, which already includes approximately 100 electric buses, including four double-decker e-buses operated by the Capital Region Urban Transport (Crut). A senior official of the housing and urban development department emphasised the initiative's significance in achieving net-zero emission targets. "Implementing clean energy practices in public transport can provide a substantial breakthrough in our environmental goals," the official said. Bhubaneswar's public transport system has witnessed remarkable evolution since 2018, starting with the introduction of Mo Bus, now rebranded as Ama Bus. The network currently serves the tri-city area of Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Puri. Commuters welcomed the Saturday's announcement. "The public transport system in Bhubaneswar has shown impressive improvement over the years. The addition of hydrogen buses could be another milestone in the journey," said Jyoti Dash, a frequent Ama Bus user.
