Bhubaneswar, Jan 31: In a new initiative aimed at promoting women’s participation in public transport, the Odisha government is set to introduce a special bus service named Subhadra Bus in Bhubaneswar.
The service will be exclusively for women passengers and will be operated entirely by women drivers. As part of the first phase, 20 women drivers have been selected for specialised training in electric bus operations. All selected candidates hold valid Heavy Motor Vehicle (HMV) licences.
The trainees will depart for Pune by flight on Saturday to undergo a 14-day advanced training programme focused on operating electric buses. The training will include hands-on driving experience in Pune’s traffic conditions, equipping the drivers with the skills required to operate electric buses safely and efficiently. The trainees are scheduled to return to Bhubaneswar on February 17, 2026.
After completing the training, the women drivers will initially operate small or mini electric buses under the Ama Bus service. They will begin by driving 9-metre buses with a seating capacity of 12 passengers. After three months of service, they will be assigned larger electric buses with a seating capacity of 30 passengers.
The Subhadra Bus initiative is expected to strengthen women’s representation in the public transport sector while also enhancing safety and comfort for women commuters in the state capital.
