President Murmu flags off Pink City Runner buses

President Murmu flags off Pink City Runner buses

GANGTOK, (IPR):
President of India, Droupadi Murmu, who is on a three-day visit to the State,
flagged off Pink City Runner bus service today at Ridge Park, Gangtok. The
concept was initially announced by Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang in October
2025.

Introduced
by the Government of Sikkim as a dedicated transport service for women, the
Pink City Runner, also known as the “Aama-Didi-Bahini Bus Sewa”, aims to make
daily travel within Gangtok safer, more reliable and affordable for women
commuters. The service operates on the route from Ranipool to Tashiling
Secretariat.

The
bus service is operated entirely by female drivers and conductors and caters
exclusively to women commuters. It has been designed with a focus on commuter
safety and a more convenient travel experience for women, particularly during
early morning and evening hours. To encourage wider use of public transport,
passengers will pay only half of the regular fare, while the remaining amount
will be subsidised by the State government.

Besides
improving access to safer transportation, the initiative is also expected to
create employment opportunities for women in the public transport sector, an
area traditionally dominated by men. The launch of the Pink City Runner aligns
with the State government’s continued focus on women empowerment, inclusive
development and welfare-oriented governance.

The
flag-off ceremony was also attended by Governor Om Prakash Mathur, Chief
Minister Prem Singh Tamang, Transport department advisor and MLA Madan Cintury,
Chief Secretary R. Telang and senior government officials.