In a significant move to improve the quality of public transportation, the Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT) has introduced a novel initiative requiring all its officials, including senior management, to travel on Ama Bus at least twice a week.
This directive, issued by CRUT’s Managing Director, Dr. N. Thirumala Naik, aims to gather firsthand insights into the passenger experience and enhance service quality.
Dr. Naik led by example on Wednesday, joining other senior officials to travel on various Ama Bus routes across Bhubaneswar. He boarded a bus from the CRUT office, travelling on Route 10 from KIT Square to Infosys City and on Route 13 from Trident College to Keshari Talkies. Purchasing a ticket like any regular passenger, Dr. Naik interacted directly with commuters to collect feedback on their travel experiences. This hands-on approach allowed him to assess the actual conditions of the service.
Officials are required to submit detailed feedback through an online form, evaluating various aspects of the Ama Bus services. This data will be used to identify gaps between administrative planning and ground-level realities, enabling CRUT to implement targeted improvements.
“Understanding the real passenger experience is crucial for building an efficient and organised public transport system,” Dr. Naik emphasised. “To bring meaningful change, our team must stay connected to the realities on the ground.”
In a similar effort, CRUT’s General Manager (O&M), Sanjay Biswal, travelled from Cuttack CDA Sector 9 to Bhubaneswar’s Kalarahanga to evaluate service conditions. To further engage passengers, CRUT plans to integrate a feedback form into the Ama Bus mobile application, allowing regular commuters to share their experiences and contribute to service enhancements.
This initiative underscores CRUT’s commitment to making Ama Bus services more seamless and passenger-friendly. By aligning administrative decisions with real-world experiences, CRUT aims to set a new standard for public transportation in Odisha’s capital region.
