Delhi to Make Pink Saheli Smart Card Mandatory for 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. The move is part of a plan to digitize the scheme and integrate it with the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) platform under the 'One Nation, One Card' initiative.

Currently, around six lakh women have registered for the card since March, but only 5 to 6 percent regularly use it to tap in at bus boarding points. Officials attribute low adoption to the continued availability of paper tickets and plan to conduct awareness campaigns across buses, depots, and terminals to encourage compliance ahead of the full rollout.

The digital system is expected to reduce misuse, improve transparency in subsidy disbursement, and generate real-time ridership data. Eligibility remains limited to Delhi residents aged 12 and above, requiring a Delhi-linked Aadhaar card and mobile number. The smart card is compatible with the NCMC framework and may support multi-modal transport integration in the future.

DTC will conduct a random survey of women passengers to assess barriers to card usage, including access, inter-state travel, and conductor practices. The government has allocated Rs 450 crore in the 2026-27 Budget for the scheme's continuation and digital integration. The court will resume hearing on Tuesday.