Bhubaneswar, October 26: The meeting between Usha Padhee, Additional Chief Secretary, Housing & Urban Development Department, and Subhalaxmi Mahananda, Odisha’s first woman electric-bus driver from Keonjhar, symbolised the power of institutional support and individual courage in empowering women.

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The meeting took place during the 19th Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference and Exhibition and the 2nd National Urban Conclave (NUC), held in Bhubaneswar from October 23 to 25, 2026. Hosted in Eastern India for the first time, the events highlighted Odisha’s commitment to inclusive, accessible and sustainable urban mobility.

Subhalaxmi’s journey behind the wheel of an electric Ama Bus is inspiring women to break stereotypes and explore new career opportunities. Supported by the Commerce & Transport Department, the Transport Commissioner and CRUT, Odisha is expanding women’s participation in public transport through training, employment and entrepreneurship initiatives.

CRUT has trained women for electric-bus operations, while the Atmanirbhar Mahila SuVahak (AMA SuVahak) initiative aims to establish 2,450 women-led transport enterprises across the state. The scheme offers interest-free loans of up to ₹10 lakh for vehicle purchases, additional incentives for electric vehicles, and driving and entrepreneurship training.

Odisha’s public transport network has also expanded to 770 buses across 138 routes, with electric buses accounting for 51 per cent of the fleet. At UMI 2026, CRUT showcased its initiatives in electric mobility, digital ticketing, passenger safety, accessibility and intelligent transport management.

The conference, guided by the theme“Urban Accessibility and Liveability in the Digital Age,”emphasised people-centred, sustainable and future-ready cities.

The meeting between Usha Padhee and Subhalaxmi reflected the spirit of Odisha’s mobility transformation:commitment is creating opportunities, courage is breaking barriers, and women are driving a more inclusive future.