In a renewed push to reinforce women’s safety in the city, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday announced the launch of dedicated ‘Pink Booths’ and all-women ‘SHINING’ mobile patrol teams across Kolkata.

The initiative, rolled out by Kolkata Police, aims to provide immediate and approachable support to women, particularly during late evening hours. The newly introduced Pink Booths, staffed entirely by women police personnel, have been set up at prominent intersections across the city.

These booths will function from evening until midnight, offering a direct point of contact for women who require assistance, wish to report concerns, or seek help while commuting.

Complementing the static booths, the SHINING patrol teams, comprising women officers exclusively, will be on active night patrol duty from 8 pm to 2 am.

The mobile units will cover major roads and high-traffic corridors, including the busy EM Bypass, to ensure enhanced vigilance during late hours when many working women return home.

Officials said the dual strategy of fixed support points and roaming patrols is designed to increase visibility, response time, and confidence among women navigating the city after dark.

The announcement comes at a time when Kolkata continues to top national safety charts. According to the latest data released by the National Crime Records Bureau for 2023, Kolkata recorded the lowest rate of cognisable offences among India’s 19 major metropolitan cities, 83.9 cases per lakh population, maintaining its position as the country’s safest large city for the fourth consecutive year.

Data also indicates a decline in crimes against women, with 1,746 cases reported in 2023, placing Kolkata among cities with the lowest crime rate in this category.

Senior police officials attribute the sustained performance to community policing, targeted surveillance, and enhanced night patrolling, efforts that the new Pink Booths and SHINING teams are expected to further strengthen.