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New Delhi: The Delhi government is looking to make significant changes on free rides for women on DTC buses. From July 1 this year, the “Pink Ticket” is likely to be discontinued, and only the “Pink Saheli Smart Card” will be allowed for women in Delhi for free travel. As per the government, the step will help to make the entire system more transparent and maintain accurate passenger records.

CM Rekha Gupta is making changes

The BJP government may soon discontinue the Pink paper Ticket and provide free travel to women only through the Smart Pink Saheli Card. Under the new rule, women passengers while climbing the bus will be required to tap the smart card on electronic machines, so that their journey is digitally recorded.

6 lakh women opted for the pink smart card

Notably, women from outside Delhi will no longer be able to travel for free on DTC buses after the Pink Ticket service is discontinued. Women residing in Delhi who possess proof of residence will be able to avail of free travel by obtaining a Pink Smart Card. The government says this will make the entire system more transparent and ensure accurate passenger records. 600,000 women have obtained Pink Smart Cards, as per the government data. The Delhi government had earlier begun rolling out the Pink Saheli Smart Card several months ago. However, its usage is currently very low. While approximately 1 million women travel on Delhi buses daily, and only 5-6 percent of these women are using the smart card.

This scheme was initiated by Kejriwal

According to the Delhi government, the subsidy system for free travel for women through the Pink Smart Card is to be changed and linked to the central government’s ‘One Nation, One Card’ scheme. The Pink Saheli card can also be recharged and used on the metro. In 2019, the Arvind Kejriwal government introduced the ‘Pink Ticket’, offering free travel to women. This scheme will now be discontinued on July 1, 2026.

(Curated by: Faiza Nazar