Pink Saheli Smart Card Rollout Begins Providing Free Bus Travel for Delhi Women and Transgender Residents
Business
On the first full day of Delhi’s Pink Saheli Smart Card rollout, more than 3,600 women and transgender residents received their free bus smart cards across 50 centres, marking a key transition from paper pink slips to Aadhaar-verified digital passes. The cards promise lifetime free rides on DTC and Cluster buses for eligible Delhi residents, while also working as National Common Mobility Cards usable across metro and RRTS networks.
The Pink Saheli card, launched on March 2 by President Droupadi Murmu, is designed to replace the earlier paper-based free travel scheme with a secure, trackable digital system. Linked to Aadhaar and mobile numbers, each card confirms age, gender and Delhi residency, tightening eligibility and cutting duplication. Officials say the move aligns with the Centre’s One Nation One Card vision, bringing Delhi’s women commuters into a unified, smart-ticketing ecosystem.
Pink Saheli Smart Card: How the new free-bus system works
Under the new arrangement, women and transgender residents tap the Pink Saheli card when boarding DTC or Cluster buses and travel free, with every journey logged digitally. The same PVC card, compliant with the National Common Mobility Card standard, can be loaded with balance for paid trips on Delhi Metro and the Regional Rapid Transit System, though the government subsidy is restricted to buses. Officials say this will streamline monitoring and optimise route planning.
The first day of distribution on March 3 saw 3,897 Pink Saheli cards and 90 blue general cards issued, indicating early but modest uptake, partly attributed to Holi holidays. Counters reported issuing roughly 40 to 45 cards each. Authorities expect applications to rise through the week as awareness spreads and regular commuting resumes. The earlier pink slip system will run in parallel for now, easing the transition for daily bus users.
| Card type | Beneficiaries | Day 1 cards issued | Key benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pink Saheli | Women, transgender Delhi residents | 3,897 | Free DTC and Cluster bus travel |
| Blue | General commuters | 90 | Regular paid NCMC travel |
Eligibility, documents and where to get the Pink Saheli card
To qualify, applicants must be women or transgender residents of Delhi aged above five years, with Aadhaar or voter ID and proof of local address. At the counter, staff capture the applicant’s name, Aadhaar number and mobile before issuing the card on the spot, at no charge. Distribution is handled by Hindon Mercantile (MufinPay) and Airtel Payments Bank under Delhi Transport Corporation’s supervision, using the existing automatic fare collection setup.
The government has opened around 50 authorised centres operating 9 am to 5 pm daily, including district and sub-divisional magistrate offices, key DTC depots such as Kashmere Gate, Nehru Place, Dwarka and Rohini, and university campuses like Delhi University North Campus and JNU. Officials emphasise that only Aadhaar showing a Delhi address will make a woman eligible for free bus rides, ending the earlier practice where non-residents also used pink tickets.
Free rides on buses, paid use on Metro and RRTS
While the Pink Saheli smart card unlocks free and unlimited journeys on DTC and Cluster buses within Delhi, it acts as a normal NCMC card on Metro and RRTS services, where commuters must pay regular fares. Transport officials underline that this separation keeps the welfare subsidy focused on buses, while still allowing a single card across modes. The QR and chip-based card is more durable than paper, reducing waste and replacement costs.
DTC and government statements stress that the digital trail created by card taps will help fine-tune services and safeguard public funds. “The cards are being issued instantly after Aadhaar cards are submitted and an Aadhaar-based verification is done,” an official said, highlighting minimal paperwork and faster processing at counters. Authorities anticipate higher demand once festive travel settles, and have not yet announced the exact date when pink slips will be fully phased out.
For Delhi’s women and transgender commuters, the first day numbers suggest the Pink Saheli card is moving from announcement to lived reality, even if cautiously. With residency now central to eligibility, and smart cards tied into the wider One Nation One Card network, the scheme blends welfare with data-driven transport planning, promising safer, cheaper and more predictable daily travel as more beneficiaries tap in over coming weeks.