India's First All-Women E-Bus Driver Programme Completes Training for 20 Odisha Recruits

A collaboration between EKA Mobility, Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT), the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and training provider Travel Time has resulted in the completion of a two-week E-Bus Driver Skill Development Programme for 20 women drivers, aimed at accelerating the integration of female operators into India's growing electric public transport network.

The programme was conducted at EKA Mobility's manufacturing facility in Chakan, Pune, with GIZ providing financial support through its CSR framework. It forms part of CRUT's broader initiative to increase the proportion of women in its operational fleet and to support Odisha's transition to electric public transport.

Curriculum and Training Approach

The structured curriculum combined hands-on driving sessions on EKA electric buses with technical modules delivered by the company's engineering team, alongside guided tours of the assembly lines, quality testing facilities and charging infrastructure. Participants were trained in regenerative braking, heavy vehicle manoeuvring, EV control systems, start-up and shutdown procedures, battery management, energy systems, charging protocols, high-voltage safety practices and daily vehicle inspection routines.

Safety training featured prominently throughout, with sessions covering defensive driving techniques, road safety regulations, passenger safety management and emergency response procedures. Soft skills modules in communication, customer service and professional conduct rounded out the programme, preparing participants for the public-facing demands of city bus operations.

Outcomes and Broader Significance

All 20 participants successfully completed the programme and are assessed as operationally ready to join CRUT's electric bus fleet. Organisers say the initiative creates a replicable model for expanding India's EV workforce and opening career pathways for women in the mobility sector, aligning technical skilling with the country's sustainable transport objectives.

What They Said

"At EKA Mobility, we believe that the future of mobility must be both sustainable and inclusive. This programme goes beyond technical training; it is about generating opportunities, instilling confidence, and preparing women to lead the future generation of public transportation. We are happy to support CRUT's goal and help Odisha make the transition to clean and equitable mobility." — Ritika Mehta, Group President, EKA Mobility

"This programme was carefully structured to ensure that participants were not only trained to operate electric buses but were fully prepared for the responsibilities of public transport driving. Through intensive on-road practice, safety drills, and scenario-based learning, we focused on building strong driving discipline, hazard awareness, and passenger-first thinking. The result is a group of women drivers who are operationally ready and equipped to contribute to safer, more dependable city bus services from day one." — Vivek Kalkar, Director, Travel Time

The initiative is part of a wider push by state and national bodies to simultaneously advance gender inclusion and accelerate India's electric mobility transition. CRUT, GIZ, EKA Mobility and Travel Time have indicated the programme model could be adapted and scaled to other states and transport operators.