Delhi to Make Pink Saheli Smart Card Mandatory for Women's Free Bus Rides from July

The Delhi government will make the Pink Saheli Smart Card mandatory for women availing free travel on DTC and Cluster buses starting July, replacing the existing pink paper ticket system. Passengers will be required to tap the card when boarding to enable digital tracking of journeys and integration with the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) platform under the 'One Nation, One Card' initiative.

As of now, only 5 to 6 percent of the nearly six lakh registered cardholders are using the smart card, according to transport department data. Officials attribute low adoption to the continued availability of paper tickets and plan awareness campaigns across buses, depots, and terminals to encourage usage before full enforcement begins.

The digital shift is expected to reduce misuse, improve transparency in subsidy payments, and provide real-time ridership data for transport planning. The scheme remains restricted to Delhi residents, who must present a Delhi-issued Aadhaar card and an Aadhaar-linked mobile number for registration; eligibility starts at age 12.

The government delayed strict implementation during May and June due to extreme heat and high passenger volumes. Transport officials will conduct a random survey of women commuters to assess barriers to card usage, including conductor cooperation and inter-state travel patterns.

The Delhi government has allocated Rs 450 crore in the 2026-27 budget for the scheme's continuation and technological upgrades. The court will resume hearing on Tuesday.