The initiative, supported by Rituparna Roy, popularly known as Ritu Roy, is being seen as a practical step toward everyday women empowerment rather than a symbolic campaign. The dedicated zone has been created for women riders, office-goers, students, mothers, senior citizens, and delivery workers who often face long waiting times and crowded fuel stations during busy hours.
The Pink Zone operates at the Bharat Petroleum Kishore Service Station in Salt Lake and is managed entirely by women staff members. According to the organisers, the goal is to create a safer, smoother, and more welcoming public service environment for women in Kolkata.
Speaking about the initiative, Rituparna Roy emphasized that respect for women should not remain limited to social media campaigns or annual celebrations. Instead, she believes meaningful changes should be visible in daily public life through actions that genuinely make women feel valued and comfortable.
Visitors at the fuel station have reportedly responded positively to the initiative. Many women customers appreciated the separate service lane, describing it as thoughtful, time-saving, and convenient during office rush hours. Several commuters also noted that the initiative creates a more organised and comfortable atmosphere compared to regular crowded fuel stations.
One of the major attractions of the Pink Zone is its women-led operational structure. Female staff members at the station are directly involved in handling customer support and fuel services, which many visitors say creates a more approachable and supportive environment for women customers.
Alongside the Pink Zone, the station also organised a “Hygiene Month” awareness drive during May. As part of the campaign, sanitary pads were distributed among women customers to encourage awareness regarding menstrual hygiene and women’s health. The initiative aimed to normalise conversations around periods and promote dignity and health awareness in public spaces.
Apart from social initiatives, Rituparna Roy is also associated with Bengali cultural and artistic activities. She has participated in various art exhibitions, music-related projects, and creative platforms connected with Kolkata’s cultural community.
The Pink Zone initiative is gradually gaining attention online for presenting a simple but impactful model of women-focused public service. Observers believe such initiatives could encourage more public and private organisations in Kolkata to introduce practical facilities that improve everyday experiences for women.
As discussions around women’s safety, dignity, and inclusion continue to grow across urban India, initiatives like Salt Lake’s Pink Zone are being viewed as examples of how small operational changes can create meaningful social impact.
