Delhi Mandates Pink Saheli Smart Cards for Free Women's Bus Travel
The Delhi government will mandate the use of Pink Saheli Smart Cards for women’s free bus travel starting July 2026, replacing traditional pink paper tickets. This initiative aims to integrate with the National Common Mobility Card platform, enhancing transparency, reducing subsidy misuse, and improving transport data. Despite 600,000 registrations, current digital adoption remains low at 5-6%. To address this, authorities will launch awareness campaigns and enforce strict compliance after a transition period. The scheme, backed by a Rs 450 crore budget, applies to female residents aged 12 and above with valid Aadhaar cards.
Cross-source coverage
Wire timeline
Delhi to Replace Pink Paper Tickets with Mandatory Smart Cards for Free Women's Bus Travel
The Delhi government is transitioning its free bus travel scheme for women from pink paper tickets to a mandatory digital system using the 'Pink Saheli Smart Card.' Scheduled for full implementation by July 2026, this initiative aims to integrate with the National Common Mobility Card platform under the 'One Nation, One Card' framework. Female passengers must tap the card on electronic readers when boarding, creating digital records to enhance transparency, prevent misuse, and improve transport planning data. While the card allows free bus travel, it can also be recharged for paid Delhi Metro rides. Eligibility is restricted to female Delhi residents aged 12 and older possessing an Aadhaar card. Since registrations opened in March 2026, approximately 600,000 women have applied across 58 city centers. However, current adoption remains low, with only 5-6 percent of cardholders actively using the digital system due to concurrent operation of the old ticket method. To address this, authorities plan to launch awareness campaigns at transit hubs. The 2026-27 budget allocates Rs 450 crore to support this digital integration and subsidy distribution.
India Today | Latest StoriesDelhi to Replace Pink Tickets with Saheli Smart Cards for Free Bus Travel
The Delhi government plans to completely phase out pink paper tickets for women's free bus travel by July 2026, replacing them with the digital Pink Saheli Smart Card. This initiative aims to integrate the local transport scheme with the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) platform under the central government’s “One Nation, One Card” initiative. Under the new system, female passengers must tap their smart cards on electronic readers while boarding Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and cluster buses to ensure every journey is digitally recorded. Officials state that this transition will enhance transparency, reduce subsidy misuse, and provide accurate data for better transport planning. Although approximately six lakh women have registered for the card since March, current usage remains low at around five to six percent, as many commuters still rely on paper tickets. To address this, awareness campaigns are scheduled to begin soon across bus depots and terminals. The scheme is exclusively available to women residents of Delhi aged twelve and above who possess a Delhi Aadhaar card. The government has allocated Rs 450 crore in the 2026–27 budget to support the continuation of free travel and its digital integration.
India Today | Latest StoriesDelhi to Replace Free Bus 'Pink Tickets' with Smart Cards by July 2026
The Delhi government is set to discontinue the physical 'Pink Ticket' for free bus travel, mandating the use of the 'Pink Saheli Smart Card' starting July 1, 2026. Introduced in 2019, the paper ticket system will be fully phased out to enhance transparency and align with the central government’s 'One Nation, One Card' initiative. Women aged 12 and older residing in Delhi, possessing a valid Aadhaar card linked to an active mobile number, are eligible for the smart card. Although approximately 600,000 cards have been issued since the initiative's launch in March, current usage remains low, with only 5-6% of daily commuters utilizing the digital system. To address this, authorities plan to launch awareness campaigns at bus stops and depots. The smart card system aims to prevent subsidy misuse and provide accurate passenger data for the Rs 450 crore budgeted scheme. While the card allows free bus travel, it requires separate recharging for metro services. Officials indicate that strict enforcement will follow the transition period, aiming to digitize records for the roughly 1 million women who daily use Delhi Transport Corporation and cluster buses.
India Today | Latest StoriesDelhi to Mandate Pink Saheli Smart Card for Free Bus Travel from July
The Delhi government plans to make the Pink Saheli Smart Card mandatory for women availing free travel on DTC and Cluster buses starting in July. Currently, over one million women travel daily using traditional pink paper tickets, but officials aim to digitize the system to reduce misuse, enhance transparency in subsidy disbursement, and generate real-time ridership data. Although approximately 600,000 women have registered for the smart card since March, only 5-6% actively use the tap system, largely due to the continued availability of paper tickets. To facilitate this transition, awareness campaigns will be conducted across buses and terminals, while strict enforcement was delayed during the peak summer months of May and June. The initiative aligns with the central government's 'One Nation, One Card' framework, integrating with the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) platform. Eligibility is restricted to female residents of Delhi aged 12 and above, requiring an Aadhaar card for registration. The government has allocated Rs 450 crore in the 2026-27 budget to support the scheme and its technological integration. A survey will also be conducted to understand commuter resistance to the digital shift.
NDTV News Search Records Found 1000Delhi to Mandate Pink Saheli Smart Card for Free Bus Rides from July
The Delhi government is preparing to make the Pink Saheli Smart Card mandatory for women availing free travel on DTC and Cluster buses starting in July. Currently, over one million women commute daily using these services, but only 5-6% of registered cardholders utilize the digital tap system, preferring traditional pink paper tickets. Officials attribute this low adoption to the continued availability of paper tickets and plan to launch awareness campaigns in buses and terminals to encourage the shift. The initiative aims to integrate with the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) platform under the central government's 'One Nation, One Card' scheme. This digitization is expected to reduce misuse, enhance transparency in subsidy disbursement, and provide real-time ridership data for better transport planning. While strict enforcement was delayed during the peak summer months of May and June, the government has allocated Rs 450 crore in the 2026-27 budget to support the scheme's technological integration. Eligibility is restricted to female residents of Delhi aged 12 and above, requiring an Aadhaar card for registration. A random survey will also be conducted to understand commuter preferences and barriers to digital adoption.
NDTV News Search Records Found 1000