By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR:An administrator who opens doors of opportunity for women and a woman who has shown the courage to grow by embracing that opportunity. The meeting between Additional Chief Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department, Mrs. Usha Padhi and Subhalakshmi Mahanand of Keonjhar district is not just a photo; it is an inspiring picture of women empowerment and change in the transport sector of Odisha.
Known as Odisha’s first woman electric bus driver, Subhalakshmi’s journey is a shining example of institutional resolve and personal courage. Her experience illustrates how women can transcend traditional perceptions and carve out a niche for themselves in new fields through appropriate policies, training and continuous support.
The meeting assumes special significance in the context of the 19th Urban Mobility India Conference and Exhibition and the 2nd National Urban Summit being held in Bhubaneswar. By hosting UMI for the first time in Eastern India, Odisha has demonstrated its commitment to accessible transportation, inclusive development and livable cities at the national level.
Subhalakshmi’s journey from Keonjhar to the driver’s seat of ‘Aam Bus’ is an inspiration to many young women. A profession that was once considered unheard of for women, is now emerging as a possible career. Her every journey sends a message that women can prove their mettle by taking the lead in important service sectors like public transport.
This change is a coordinated effort by the Department of Commerce and Transport, Transport Authority and the Managing Director of CRUT. Through policy formulation, training, livelihood opportunities and management of transport services, an enabling environment is being created for women to enter the sector and build a sustainable career.
CRUT has also taken various steps to increase the participation of women in the transport sector. One notable step is providing advanced electric bus driving training to 20 women with heavy motor vehicle driving licenses. Working as drivers, conductors and feeder service staff, women are making public transport more inclusive and are showcasing their professionalism and skills.
To further enhance this objective, the ‘Aatmanirbhar Women Suvahak’ (AMA SuVahak) scheme has been designed. Through this, the target is to create 2,450 women-led transport enterprises in Odisha. Interest-free loans up to Rs 10 lakh for purchase of vehicles, additional incentives of Rs 2 lakh for purchase of electric vehicles and free driving and enterprise management training along with assistance in obtaining licenses are the key provisions of the scheme. It aims to convert women’s skills and vehicle ownership into income-generating opportunities by prioritizing members of self-help groups and other eligible women and connecting them with digital platforms for passenger transport.
These initiatives go hand in hand with the expansion of Odisha’s public transport system. Krut has grown from a single city-based service to a vast network of 770 buses on 138 routes. 51 percent of this fleet is electric. Similarly, about 48 percent of ticket transactions are cashless, reflecting the growing acceptance of digital payments and modern passenger services.
The exhibition pavilion set up by CRUT at UMI 2026 showcased initiatives related to ‘Aam Bus’, electric transport, ‘Odisha Yatri’, smart transport management system, digital ticketing, passenger safety and smooth movement. In addition, the conference was planned, coordinated and organized by
Krut has played a key role in showcasing Odisha’s transportation expertise at the national level.
Based on the theme ‘Urban Mobility and Liveability in the Digital Age’, the conference discussed transport systems that connect people to new opportunities and make cities more inclusive, accessible and sustainable. The conference reinforced the goal of building future-ready cities by putting citizens at the heart of urban development.
The meeting of Mrs. Usha Padhi and Subhalakshmi Mahananda has brought this vision to life. When a woman sits in the driver’s seat of a bus, behind her lies a created opportunity, acquired skills, institutional support and the courage to take the first step. Subhalakshmi’s journey will inspire many more women to fulfill their dreams and lead in new fields in the coming days.
In this new journey of Odisha, determination is opening doors of opportunity, courage is driving change, and the new generation of girls are dreaming of seeing themselves in the driver’s seat of the future.
