Pink Saheli card: Delhi Aadhaar mandatory for free bus rides for women in 2026
Starting January, Delhi's Pink Saheli card initiative will grant women free access to public bus rides, striving for enhanced transparency and convenience. Women aged 12 and over who call Delhi home will utilize this modern smart card, which replaces traditional paper tickets.
NEW DELHI: Delhi govt is set to introduce the Pink Saheli card from the New Year with modalities near completion, officials said, reports . The smart card will be mandatory for women availing of free rides in Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses and is aimed at bringing greater transparency and efficiency to the scheme that benefits nearly 2 crore women commuters every month.The Delhi Transport Department has finalised two private vendors to issue the smart cards. Officials said the govt will begin setting up dedicated counters across the city, enabling women to apply for the Pink Saheli card using their Delhi Aadhaar as proof of identity.
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Paper-Based Pink Ticket Mechanism To End
The counters will be opened at district magistrate (DM) and sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) offices, bus depots and Common Service Centres (CSCs) to ensure easy access.According to DTC officials, the Pink Saheli card will be issued exclusively to girls and women aged 12 years and above who are residents of Delhi. Once issued, commuters will be required to tap the card on the electronic ticketing machine (ETM) carried by bus conductors to avail of free travel. Officials said this digital system will replace the existing paper-based pink ticket mechanism, which has been in place since the free bus travel scheme was launched in Oct 2019.
Apart from the Pink Saheli card, selected banks will also issue two other categories of smart cards. One will be for bus pass holders belonging to more than 12 categories, including senior citizens, persons with disabilities, sportspersons, war widows, and national award winners. The third will be a general-purpose smart card for all commuters. Similar to a metro card, it will function on a prepaid basis and require full KYC, including the passenger's name and photograph.
Sources said commuters will have to pay a minimum of Rs 120 to obtain this card, after which it can be recharged as needed, officials said. The card could also be interoperable with the Delhi Metro. However, this is yet to be finalised, he said.
Officials said that in a recent meeting, transport minister Pankaj Singh directed the department and banks to ensure smooth and hassle-free card issuance."The responsibility of opening and managing the counters would be with the banks. The govt would oversee that women do not face any inconvenience while applying for the Pink Saheli card," he said. If preparations proceed as planned, the scheme could be formally launched any time after Jan 14, officials added.