Six recent deaths from Mo Bus accidents in Odisha

Six people have died in the past eight months due to accidents involving Mo Buses in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. Overall, 16 fatalities have been reported since the bus services began in 2019. This information was shared by Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra in the state assembly. The Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT) operates 375 Mo Buses in the area. The government has provided nearly Rs 2.94 crore in compensation to the families of those who lost their lives in these accidents. To enhance safety, speed governors have been installed in the buses. Electric buses are limited to 35 km/h, while diesel buses can go up to 40 km/h. Buses on national highways have a speed limit of 50 km/h. Since June 2024, there have been 19 reported accidents, including six fatal ones. The minister mentioned that each bus is now equipped with fire extinguishers, cameras, emergency exits, and first aid kits to improve safety. To ensure that drivers are qualified, they regularly attend training sessions at State Transport Authority institutes. Additionally, surprise breath analyzer tests for alcohol consumption are conducted twice daily starting in November 2024. These measures help monitor drivers and ensure they follow traffic rules and stop at designated points. Furthermore, an advanced driver assistance system is being implemented in the buses. Eight bus captains have been dismissed for being responsible for accidents, according to the minister.