Shubhalakshmi Mahananda becomes Odisha’s first female electric bus driver

Shubhalakshmi Mahananda has become the first woman in Odisha to drive an electric passenger bus. Operating out of the Ama Bus depot in Kendujhar, she is employed by Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT).

Her role involves managing the technical complexities of electric vehicles, including high-voltage operating systems, battery monitoring, and regenerative braking. Her achievement is noted as a step toward increasing women's participation in non-traditional, male-dominated sectors of public transport.

The district of Kendujhar is currently expanding its electric mobility infrastructure, maintaining a fleet of 25 electric buses to provide cleaner public transport options outside of major metropolitan centers.