The state-run ‘Ama Bus’ public transport service has claimed seven lives in road accidents over the past one year, Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra told the Odisha Legislative Assembly today.
In a written reply to a question by Congress MLA Sophia Firdous, the minister said the maximum number of fatalities — six — occurred in Bhubaneswar, while one person lost their life in Cuttack.
The minister’s data also showed that eight people suffered serious injuries in ‘Ama Bus’ accidents during the same period. Bhubaneswar accounted for four of these grievous injuries, with one case each reported from Puri, Rourkela, Sambalpur and Berhampur.
The government has intensified safety measures for the fleet. Ground staff carried out 28,700 surprise checks across the state in 2025. Strict speed limits have also been enforced since November 2024. Electric buses are now capped at 35 km per hour, diesel buses operating within city limits are restricted to 40 kmph, and those plying on highways are allowed a maximum of 50 kmph.
The disclosure comes amid concerns over road safety as the popular public bus network continues to expand in the state’s major urban centres.
