EKA Mobility Trains 20 Women as Electric Bus Drivers

A two-week E-Bus Driver Skill Development Programme aimed at increasing women’s participation in India’s electric public transport sector has been successfully completed. The initiative was jointly organised by EKA Mobility, Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and training partner Travel Time.

The programme was conducted at EKA Mobility’s manufacturing facility in Chakan, Pune, where 20 women drivers received comprehensive technical and practical training in electric bus operations. The curriculum covered regenerative braking, battery management, EV control systems, charging protocols, high-voltage safety practices, vehicle inspection routines, and heavy vehicle manoeuvring. Participants also toured assembly lines, quality testing facilities, and charging infrastructure.

Safety training formed a key component of the programme, including defensive driving techniques, road safety regulations, passenger safety management, and emergency response procedures. Soft skills training in communication, customer service, and professional conduct was also provided to prepare participants for public-facing transport roles.

All 20 trainees successfully completed the programme and are now considered operationally ready to join CRUT’s electric bus fleet, supporting Odisha’s transition to clean and sustainable public transport. Organisers said the initiative offers a replicable model to expand India’s EV workforce while promoting gender inclusion, and it may be scaled to other states and transport operators.