Bhubaneswar, Dec 27: The Odisha government has announced a free bus service for school students under the Chief Minister’s Bus Service Scheme, aiming to make commuting easier and curb dropout rates due to long distances. The initiative comes following a proposal from the School and Mass Education Department to the Transport Department.

A two-day-old directive from the Transport Department confirms the scheme’s rollout after state government approval. Officials said the decision follows discussions in a high-level meeting chaired by the Chief Minister in August, which focused on measures to facilitate student travel to schools.

Under the scheme, students can travel free on both AC and non-AC buses operated by the Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC). Students will need to wear their school uniform or carry a valid school ID while availing of the service.

OSRTC will revise existing bus routes and schedules, giving priority to roads with a high concentration of schools. The government expects the move to improve school attendance and reduce dropout rates across the state.