Shubhalakshmi Mahananda Becomes Odisha's 1st Woman Electric Bus Driver

By: Women Entrepreneurs Review Team | Thursday, 15 October 2026

Shubhalakshmi Mahananda, recognized by the Odisha government as the state’s first woman electric bus driver, is highlighting the growing participation of women in non-traditional transport jobs. Her achievement comes as Bhubaneswar prepares to host the 19th Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference and Expo on October 23 and 24.

Her journey reflects efforts to expand women’s access to careers in public transportation as Odisha continues to develop its mobility infrastructure. Ahead of the upcoming conference, her experience brings attention to the role women can play in shaping the future of urban transport.

Shubhalakshmi drives an Ama Bus operated by Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT) in Kendujhar. According to a press release, the district’s electric bus network operates 25 vehicles and has a dedicated depot. Her role represents both the expansion of electric public transport and the growing opportunities for women in the sector.

Key Highlights:

• Shubhalakshmi is recognized as Odisha’s first woman electric bus driver
• Odisha’s Ama Bus initiative promotes clean public transport and expands women’s career opportunities
• Bhubaneswar will host the 19th Urban Mobility India Conference and Expo on October 23–24, 2026

The report said that driving a passenger bus involves technical skills, vigilant and responsible behavior toward fellow passengers. Shubhalakshmi gained the skills required from specialized training and experience.

Her career path illustrates how career paths can open up for women when they become involved in something traditionally considered a male domain. The state government stated that women involved in the transport industry can diversify the workforce and become economically independent.

The release also relates the growth of electric buses in Kendujhar to Odisha's clean public transport effort. Although emissions reductions or operating costs specific to the district's fleet weren't written, electric buses can cut local air pollution when compared to conventional diesel buses.

The government's public mobility programs in Odisha cover Ama Bus, Ama E-Ride and digital mobility services to link the people to jobs and vital services, it said.

Bhubaneswar is to host the 19th UMI Conference and Expo on October 23 and 24 themed on “Urban Accessibility & Liveability in the Digital Age”. The event will be held for the first time in eastern India in Odisha state, the release said.

It is expected that the conference will have the participation of policy makers, urban planning and mobility experts and discuss how to achieve accessible, sustainable and technology-related transport systems. The program will be held in parallel with the National Urban Conclave 2026.

The events will be an opportunity for discussions on “sustainable and inclusive urban development” by policymakers, planners and mobility experts, said Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra. He also took the example of Shubhalakshmi, who has travelled to empower women and created opportunities for the state.

Her story brings a workforce twist to the conversation about electric vehicles, digital services and transport infrastructure. It draws attention to the apparently paradoxical issues of who will be able to get jobs in this field and who will have a say in the development of public transport in the future, when the transition to green mobility is underway.