New Delhi, 28 May : President of India, Ms Droupadi Murmu, who is on a three-day official visit to the state, flagged off the Pink City Runner bus service yesterday at Ridge Park, Gangtok, prior to the 7th Convocation Ceremony of Sikkim University. The concept was initially announced by Chief Minister, Mr 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’s empowerment, inclusive development and welfare-oriented governance.
The flag-off ceremony was also attended by Governor of Sikkim Mr Om Prakash Mathur; Chief Minister of Sikkim, Mr Prem Singh Tamang; MLA-cum-Advisor, Transport Department, Mr Madan Cintury; Chief Secretary Mr R Telang; Secretary, Home (Protocol), Ms Benu Gurung; Secretary, Information and Public Relations Department, Ms Annapurna Alley; PCE-cum-Secretary, Transport Department, Mr Manish Pradhan; Secretary, Rural Development Department, Mr Anil Raj Rai; ADM (HQ), Mr Tshering Norgyal Theengh; senior police officers; officials of the Transport Department; and other dignitaries.