In a proactive move to address women’s safety in Kolkata, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has greenlit two innovative police programs starting today. Shared via her X platform, the announcements signal a renewed commitment to making the city even safer for women.
First up are the pink booths at major crossroads, staffed by women police personnel and running from dusk till midnight. Designed as safe havens, they enable direct interaction with female officers for any assistance needed, breaking barriers to reporting incidents.
The second initiative introduces ‘Shining’ mobile squads—exclusively female teams patrolling from 8 PM to 2 AM on critical roads such as EM Bypass. These routes, frequented by late-shift working women, will now benefit from dedicated oversight, deterring potential threats.
‘Kolkata has been the nation’s safest city for years, and these steps will strengthen it further,’ Banerjee posted confidently. The measures align with broader empowerment drives, including the enhanced Lakshmi Bhandar scheme announced earlier this month.
Under the interim 2026-27 budget tabled by Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya, general category beneficiaries see their monthly stipend rise to Rs 1,500 from Rs 1,000, while SC/ST women get Rs 1,700 from Rs 1,200—a Rs 500 boost each. With Rs 15,000 crore earmarked, the scheme underscores financial security as a pillar of safety.
As Kolkata leads in urban safety, these initiatives set a benchmark for other cities, blending technology, personnel, and policy for holistic protection.
