THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, AUGUST 26, 2026

In a special gesture aimed at making public transport more accessible, safe and dignified for women, the Comprehensive Region Urban Transport (CRUT) has announced free travel for women passengers on Ama Bus services on August 27, on the auspicious occasion of Raksha Bandhan.

The initiative has been undertaken as per the direction of Chief Minister and under the guidance of Housing and Urban Development Minister Dr Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, reflecting the state government's commitment to ensuring greater convenience, safety and priority for women in public mobility.

The free travel facility will be available on all Ama Buses operating in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri, Rourkela, Sambalpur, Berhampur and Keonjhar. More than one lakh women passengers are expected to benefit from the initiative in a single day.

The initiative seeks to promote safe, convenient and affordable public transport for women while strengthening their social and economic mobility. It is expected to enable women to travel with greater confidence and ease, particularly on a festival that celebrates the bond of affection and protection.

Ama Bus services have also been strengthened with passenger safety and convenience measures, including GPS-based bus tracking, CCTV surveillance, trained bus staff and passenger assistance systems, among other facilities.

CRUT Managing Director Siddik Alam said the initiative, taken as per the direction of the Chief Minister and under the guidance of the Housing and Urban Development Minister, further reinforces CRUT's commitment to providing women with safe, affordable and dignified mobility.

However, women passengers availing themselves of the free travel facility will be required to obtain a ‘Zero Ticket’. CRUT has urged passengers to cooperate with bus staff and maintain proper passenger etiquette to ensure smooth, comfortable and hassle-free travel for everyone.

On Raksha Bandhan, CRUT has invited women passengers to make the occasion memorable by choosing Ama Bus services and experiencing safe, convenient and hassle-free public transport across the cities covered by the service.