Bhubaneswar: Capital Region Urban Transport (Crut) is planning to establish a dedicated driver training institute at its depot here, aiming to strengthen professional standards and enhance safety across its Ama Bus service network.The proposed institute will focus on practical driving skills, behavioural training, traffic regulations, lane discipline and road safety modules.Officials said the initiative is designed to reduce accidents, instil discipline among drivers and build public confidence in the city’s bus service.Housing and urban development minister Krishna Chandra Mahapatra, who chaired a high-level review meeting earlier this week, underscored the importance of structured training in ensuring passenger safety.“A dedicated driver training institute will soon be established on the Crut depot premises. It will not only improve driving skills but also focus on behavioural aspects, traffic rules and lane discipline. This will go a long way in strengthening public transport safety in Odisha,” Mahapatra stated.The minister also highlighted Crut’s broader initiatives, including mandatory alcohol testing for drivers, insurance coverage for accident victims and the induction of women drivers into the system.As part of this push, Crut on Saturday sent 20 selected women candidates, who hold valid heavy motor vehicle licences, to Pune for specialised e-bus driving training, marking a step towards inclusive employment in public transport.Prior to their departure, the women drivers were felicitated by Mahapatra and Usha Padhee, principal secretary, housing and urban development department, who encouraged them to successfully complete the training programme and emerge as role models in public transport services.The 14-day advanced training programme, scheduled from Feb 2 to 15, will be conducted at the OEM EKA mobility plant, Pune, with sponsorship and technical support from GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit).Officials said the programme will focus on electric vehicle (EV) bus handling, advanced driving practices, safety protocols and operational excellence. “The trainees are scheduled to return on Feb 17,” they added.Sanjaya Biswal, managing director, Crut, along with other officials, encouraged the trainees and reaffirmed Crut’s commitment to skill development, gender inclusion and strengthening urban public transport services across the capital region.
