Pink Saheli Smart Card Becomes Essential for Free Bus Travel

Starting 1 October, every woman boarding a Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) or cluster bus must present a Pink Saheli Smart Card to claim the fare‑free benefit. The requirement covers both AC and non‑AC buses, and transgender passengers continue to qualify under the same provision.

What Prompted the Change?

The card, launched in March on the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) platform, replaces the pink paper tickets that will be withdrawn after 30 September as per the Delhi Transport Department’s directive. Authorities argue that a digital system will boost transparency, simplify record‑keeping and make passenger verification easier.

Awareness Campaign in Full Swing

City officials are stepping up outreach to ensure commuters are aware of the new rule. Announcements echo through bus depots, are broadcast on buses, and circulate on social media and print outlets. 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.

Queues Stretch Across Multiple Depots

The surge in demand has turned several depots into waiting‑room marathons. On a recent Sunday, extensive lines 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 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 handed out, leaving a sizable crowd still waiting.

First‑hand Experiences

  • Geetanjali waited three hours on Sunday after a fruitless attempt the day before, 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 the line.
  • Shaheen was asked by a conductor to show a Pink Saheli Card on the bus, prompting her to join the depot crowd where she endured several more hours of waiting.

Calls for Faster Issuance

The flood of applications has exposed bottlenecks in the card‑issuance process. Commuters are urging the government to speed up registration, increase issuing capacity, and possibly set up mobile or pop‑up centres to reduce repeated trips and marathon waits.

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