The Delhi government has announced that women commuters traveling for free on Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and cluster buses will be required to use Pink Saheli Smart Cards starting July, as the administration prepares to phase out the existing pink ticket system introduced in 2019. According to an official, women availing the free travel facility will need to tap their pink cards while boarding buses to register their journey digitally.
This move is designed to streamline the subsidy mechanism and integrate the scheme with the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) framework under the central government's 'One Nation, One Card' initiative. President Droupadi Murmu launched the pink card initiative on March 2 this year. Since registrations began in March, approximately six lakh women commuters have obtained the card from 58 centers across the city. However, usage remains low, with only 5% to 6% of cardholders currently tapping it during travel.
Current Usage and Transition
Over ten lakh women use DTC and cluster buses daily, with many taking multiple rides. A senior official noted that most commuters still depend on the pink ticket system because it continues to operate alongside the card. The government wants commuters to gradually make a digital shift before the compulsory system comes into effect. Authorities clarified that strict enforcement has been deliberately avoided for now due to summer. Awareness campaigns will be conducted on buses and at depots over the next few weeks to educate passengers on how to use the card and understand the rules.
Eligibility and Requirements
The facility remains restricted to women living in Delhi. Applicants must provide a Delhi Aadhaar card along with an active Aadhaar-linked mobile number during registration. Any female aged 12 years and above is eligible to apply for the card. Transport officials stated that the transition to the smart-card system will help eliminate misuse of pink tickets, improve collection of passenger data, and ensure greater transparency in subsidy disbursal. The system will also allow authorities to monitor real-time ridership patterns among women.
The Delhi government has allocated Rs 450 crore in the 2026-27 budget for the continuation of this free travel scheme. The funding will support both operational subsidies and technological integration under the NCMC platform, officials said. DTC plans to conduct a random survey among women passengers traveling on buses to understand why many continue relying on the old ticket system. The exercise will also assess issues such as availability of smart cards, travel by inter-state passengers, and whether conductors are urging commuters to tap their cards.
Currently, the Delhi government operates around 5,500 buses, with women forming a significant portion of the daily ridership. The pink ticket scheme was introduced by the then Aam Aadmi Party government in 2019.
