Pink Saheli Smart Card Becomes a Requirement for Free Bus Travel

Starting 1 October, every female passenger boarding a Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) or cluster bus must present a Pink Saheli Smart Card to claim the fare‑free benefit. The rule covers both AC and non‑AC services, and transgender riders remain eligible under the same scheme.

What Prompted the Change?

The card, rolled out in March, runs on the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) platform and replaces the pink paper tickets that will be discontinued after 30 September, as announced by the Delhi Transport Department. Officials argue that a digital card will boost transparency, simplify record‑keeping, and make passenger verification easier.

Ongoing Awareness Campaign

Authorities are stepping up outreach to ensure commuters are aware of the new rule. Announcements are being broadcast at bus depots, inside buses, and across social‑media, print, and radio channels. To date, roughly 1.9 million women have already obtained a Pink Saheli card, while the rest are urged to visit the designated registration centres.

Lines Stretching Across Depots

The surge in demand has turned several depots into waiting‑room marathons. On a recent Sunday, extensive queues formed at the Shahdara and Hasanpur bus depots, with some applicants arriving as early as 6 a.m.. Many reported spending four to five hours before receiving a card.

The registration process begins with a token and a paper slip bearing a registration number. Applicants are called in sequence, but by early afternoon only about 100 cards had been issued out of roughly 250 tokens distributed, leaving a sizable crowd still waiting.

First‑hand Experiences

  • Geetanjali spent three hours on Sunday after a failed attempt the previous day, still unsure when her turn would come.
  • Rajkumari, an elderly rider, was allowed to move ahead and received her card, but her daughter‑in‑law remained stuck in line.
  • Shaheen was asked by a conductor to show a Pink Saheli Card on board, prompting her to join the depot crowd where she endured several more hours of waiting.

Calls for Faster Issuance

The influx of applications has highlighted bottlenecks in the card‑issuance workflow. Commuters are urging the government to speed up registration, expand issuance capacity, and perhaps introduce mobile or pop‑up centres to reduce repeated trips and lengthy waits.

A smoother system would not only ease the shift from paper tickets to smart cards but also ensure that the promise of free travel remains reachable for the city’s women without unnecessary hassle.