Paperman Media । Bhubaneswar, October 27
Odisha’s public transport initiatives have received three national honours at the 19th Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference and Exhibition 2026, held in Bhubaneswar on October 23–24. The awards recognise the state’s efforts to promote sustainable mobility, strengthen connectivity and improve public transport services.
Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs and Power Manohar Lal presented the awards at the valedictory session on October 24. The event was organised by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs with support from the Government of Odisha.
Odisha received the Commendation Award for State/UT with Best Urban Transport Reforms and Implementations. Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT) currently operates 770 buses across 138 routes in seven cities, carrying approximately 3.5 lakh passengers daily.
The Ama Bus network integrates with e-rickshaws, electric feeder services and digital mobility platforms such as Odisha Yatri to improve first- and last-mile connectivity. Digital ticketing and integrated transport planning further aim to make commuting more convenient and accessible.
Bhubaneswar, represented by CRUT, secured the Excellence Award for City with the Best Green Transport Initiative. Electric buses now account for more than 52 per cent of CRUT’s fleet, compared with around 20 per cent two years ago. More than 50 routes operate entirely on electricity.
CRUT’s sustainability measures also include rooftop solar power, rainwater harvesting, treated-water reuse and energy-efficient depots. The organisation estimates that solar power generation prevents approximately 200 tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions annually, while nearly 50,000 kilolitres of treated water are reused each year.
CRUT’s pavilion also won first prize for Best Exhibition, showcasing electric mobility, digital ticketing, a bus-driving simulator and future initiatives involving artificial intelligence-enabled scheduling and route optimisation.
The three awards highlight Odisha’s efforts to develop cleaner, safer and better-connected urban transport. CRUT aims to further improve affordability, accessibility and passenger convenience, connecting citizens with education, employment, healthcare and other essential services through sustainable public mobility.
