Pink Saheli Smart Card Now a Must‑Have for Zero‑Fare Bus Rides

Starting 1 October, any woman boarding a Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) or cluster bus will need to tap a Pink Saheli Smart Card to benefit from the fare‑free scheme. The rule covers both AC and non‑AC buses, and transgender riders continue to qualify under the same provision.

What Prompted the Change?

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

Ongoing Awareness Campaign

City officials are stepping up outreach to ensure commuters are aware of the new requirement. Announcements are being broadcast at bus depots, inside buses, and across social‑media platforms and newspapers. To date, roughly 1.9 million women have already obtained a Pink Saheli card, while the rest are urged to visit the designated registration points.

Long Lines at Registration Hubs

The surge in demand has turned several depots into waiting‑room marathons. On a recent Sunday, extensive queues stretched through 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 enrolment 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 handed out of roughly 250 tokens issued, leaving a sizable crowd still waiting.

Voices from the Line

  • Geetanjali stood in line for three hours on Sunday after an unproductive visit the previous day, still unsure when her turn would come.
  • Rajkumari, an elderly commuter, was allowed to skip ahead and received her card, while her daughter‑in‑law remained stuck in the queue.
  • 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.

Demand for Faster Issuance

The influx of applications has highlighted bottlenecks in the card‑distribution workflow. Riders are urging the government to speed up registration, increase issuance capacity, and perhaps roll out mobile or pop‑up centres to cut down repeated trips and prolonged waits.

A smoother process would not only ease the shift from paper tickets to smart cards but also guarantee that the promise of free travel stays within reach for Delhi’s women without unnecessary hassle.