Bhubaneswar, April 3: Reaffirming its commitment to sustainable urban mobility, the Odisha government has expanded its electric bus fleet with the addition of 40 new buses under the Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT).
Dr.Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, Housing & Urban Development Minister flagged off the buses on Thursday at Gadakana Depot.
Addressing the media, Dr.Mahapatra stated, “The Odisha Government remains committed to enhancing urban transportation, ensuring eco-friendly and efficient mobility solutions for citizens. This expansion is a significant step towards realizing the vision of VIKSIT Odisha and building a greener future With over 3 lakh people relying on this service daily, the addition of more buses will greatly enhance accessibility, convenience, and the overall public transportation network.”
He further highlighted that out of CRUT’s fleet of 560 buses, 180 are now electric. At present AmaBus service operates in 106 routes across Capital Region, Rourkela, Sambalpur & Berhampur. This initiative marks another milestone in Odisha’s journey towards sustainable and smart urban transport, reinforcing the government’s focus on eco-friendly mobility solutions.
With this addition, bus frequency will increase on key routes, including 20, 21, 24/24E, 27, 32, 33, 37, 38, 40, 41, 43, 44, 47, 64 and 82. Consequently, the Ama Bus service schedule will be revised from April 4, 2025, with modifications to certain routes:
- Route 27: Bhubaneswar Railway Station to Bhagwanpur via AIIMS
- Route 40: AIIMS to Sai Mandira (Kesora)
- Route 82: SCB Medical, Cuttack to Biju Patnaik International Airport
In the near future, the fleet will be expanded with 100 additional electric buses under the state scheme. Further 400 e-buses will be added under the state PM e-Bus Sewa scheme. State-of-the-art electric depots are currently under construction in Pokhariput, Bhubaneswar and Naraj, Cuttack, with upcoming depots planned in Chhend, Rourkela and Modipara, Sambalpur.
Ekamra MLA Babu Singh, H&UD Secretary UshaPadhi, and CRUT Managing Director Dr. N. ThirumalaNaik, attended the event, along with other dignitaries.
