Bhubaneswar: The escalating frequency of public transit fatalities in Odisha has necessitated a transition from passive regulation to assertive field intervention.
State Transport Commissioner Shri Amitabh Thakur, recognizing the moral urgency of public safety, personally led a high-stakes enforcement operation to scrutinize the operational integrity of the Ama Bus fleet.
This mission, executed under the direct mandate of the Chief Minister and the strategic supervision of Principal Secretary Smt. Usha Padhee, marks a systemic shift toward socio-legal precision in transport management.
Shri Amitabh Thakur focused his efforts on the Master Canteen depot in Bhubaneswar, where a specialized team conducted granular inspections of over 50 vehicles. The operation was designed to address layered causality in road accidents, moving beyond paperwork to evaluate the immediate physical and mental readiness of the workforce.
By implementing rigorous breathalyzer tests and mechanical fitness audits, the Commissioner signaled a zero-tolerance policy for negligence that compromises human life.
The scope of this intervention extended far beyond the Capital City. Extensive checks were synchronized across Gadakana, Chandrasekharpur, Cuttack, Puri, Sambalpur, Berhampur, and Rourkela.
These inspections targeted critical safety variables: Mechanical fitness and brake system responsiveness, Driver sobriety and physiological health, Strict adherence to established road safety protocols and Psychological assessments of driver fatigue and stress
In a move toward evidence-based narrative building, Shri Amitabh Thakur Commissioner and the State Transport Authority engaged in direct synthesis with the primary stakeholders: the drivers, guides, and passengers.
By gathering qualitative data on the ground, the department seeks to understand the structural failures that lead to accidents. This dialogue-driven approach ensures that future policy adjustments are rooted in the lived realities of those navigating the state’s highways.
The scale of the first day’s operation reflects a significant commitment to regulatory oversight. By 7 pm, the enforcement teams had documented inspections of 32 buses at Netaji Bus Terminal, 47 at Naraj, and numerous others across Rourkela and Ganjam.
Shri Thakur has confirmed that these inspections will no longer be sporadic but will become a regularized feature of the State Transport Department’s schedule. This directive has been formally communicated to all Regional Transport Officers, establishing a new standard of accountability for the Ama Bus network to ensure the sanctity of public travel.