Ama Bus safety enforcement in Bhubaneswar has resulted in disciplinary action against 95 bus captains for driving under the influence of alcohol since November 2024, the Comprehensive Region Urban Transport (CRUT) said on Sunday.
CRUT said 69 captains were detected under the influence of alcohol before beginning their shifts and were suspended for three months. Another 26 were found drunk while on duty and were immediately terminated by their operators. The Regional Transport Offices also suspended the driving licences of the affected drivers.
The agency issued the update after a recent incident in which an Ama Bus captain was found under the influence of alcohol while returning to a depot after completing scheduled operations. An inquiry committee set up to examine the incident confirmed serious violations of safety protocols. The bus operator subsequently terminated the employee with immediate effect, while CRUT recommended that the concerned RTO cancel the driver’s licence.
CRUT said mandatory breath analyser tests are conducted three times a day for bus captains at all depots. The agency said the test results are made publicly available on its website as part of its accountability and transparency measures. Since November 2024, 4.28 lakh breath analyser tests have been conducted across its operations.
The enforcement system places responsibility at multiple levels: CRUT conducts operational monitoring, bus operators take employment-related disciplinary action, and the RTOs act on driving licences. The measures distinguish between drivers found under the influence before a shift and those detected while operating or performing duty, with the latter category facing immediate termination according to the agency’s statement.
CRUT also said it monitors speeding through ticket-checking squads. A total of 54,827 speed checks have been conducted across routes in the city region. The agency said all Ama Buses are fitted with electronic speed governors. Within city limits, diesel buses are restricted to 40 kmph and electric buses to 35 kmph, while the speed limit on national and state highways is fixed at 50 kmph.
The controls cover two separate operational risks in a city bus system: impairment before or during duty and excessive speed on public roads. Together with the breath analyser programme, the speed checks give CRUT a monitoring framework that extends beyond passenger complaints or post-incident action.
“Passenger safety is non-negotiable. Through continuous monitoring, strict enforcement and coordination with transport authorities, CRUT remains committed to maintaining the highest standards of operational safety,” the agency said. CRUT’s latest action follows the inquiry into the recent depot-return incident and its recommendation to the concerned RTO on the driver’s licence.
