Bhubaneswar: Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT) managing director Mohd Siddique Alam on Thursday announced plans to deploy 400 additional electric buses across Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Rourkela, Sambalpur, and Berhampur. The state is also set to introduce three hydrogen fuel cell buses with support from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
Expansion of Green Fleet
According to officials, since its inception in 2018, CRUT has expanded its fleet to 760 buses by April 2026, marking a significant push towards green mobility in the state. Electric bus services were rolled out in Sambalpur and Berhampur in 2024, followed by large-scale additions in 2025.
Infrastructure Upgrades
To support the expansion, modern depots have been operationalized at Gadakana, Naraj, Puri, Sambalpur, Berhampur, and Keonjhar. Infrastructure upgrades also include exclusive terminals for electric vehicles at Chandrasekharpur and Master Canteen, along with 153 new bus poles in Cuttack alone, as per a CRUT statement issued on Thursday.
Government Commitment
Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra stated that the state is committed to providing safe, affordable, and technology-enabled public transport to people. He added that CRUT's progress reflects a vision of greener and smarter cities.
Additional Chief Secretary of the department, Usha Padhee, said that the state aims to build future-ready, inclusive, and environmentally responsible urban transport systems, underlining the role of innovation and governance in improving the commuter experience.
Workforce and Inclusion
On the workforce front, Alam said more than 6,000 personnel have been trained since 2024 in different road safety modules. In a move towards gender inclusion, 20 women have been trained as drivers for electric buses. CRUT has also introduced a system to recognize staff performance.
