Pink Saheli Smart Card Now Mandatory for Free Bus Travel

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

What Prompted the Change?

The card, introduced in March, operates on the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) framework and replaces the pink paper tickets that will be withdrawn after 30 September, as announced by the Delhi Transport Department. Authorities claim the 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 rule. Announcements are being broadcast at bus depots, on buses, and across social‑media platforms and newspapers. To date, about 1.9 million women have already obtained a Pink Saheli card, while the rest are urged to visit the designated registration points.

Long Queues at Registration Hubs

The surge in demand has turned several depots into waiting‑room marathons. On a recent Sunday, extensive lines 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 registration begins with a token and a paper slip bearing a unique 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 sizeable crowd still waiting.

First‑Hand Experiences

  • Geetanjali waited three hours on Sunday after a fruitless visit the previous day, still unsure when her turn would come.
  • Rajkumari, an elderly commuter, 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 board, prompting her to join the depot crowd where she endured several more hours of waiting.

Demand for Faster Issuance

The flood of applications has highlighted bottlenecks in the card‑distribution process. Riders are calling on the government to speed up registration, increase issuance capacity, and perhaps roll out mobile or pop‑up centres to reduce repeated trips and marathon waits.

A smoother system would not only ease the transition from paper tickets to smart cards but also guarantee that the promise of free travel remains truly accessible to Delhi’s women without unnecessary hassle.