Women commuters in Delhi will not be able to avail free travel in Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses from August 1, 2026, without the ‘Saheli Pink National Common Mobility Card’, also known as the Pink Saheli Smart Card, Transport Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh said on Friday.
He said paper pink tickets will remain valid only till July 31, after which the smart card will be the sole mode for availing free travel.
The move is likely to exclude several women without a Delhi domicile. Transgender persons, who were initially included in the scheme, have also reported difficulties in obtaining the cards.
“Pink tickets will remain valid till July 31 and from August 1, women possessing the Pink Saheli Smart Card will continue to travel free of cost. So far, 15 lakh cards have been issued, and the process will continue at DTC depots and notified centres. The government will ensure that no eligible beneficiary is deprived,” the Minister said.
Concerned over low adoption, the DTC has launched a drive across buses urging women commuters to obtain the cards, an official statement said. The government has also set up 50 authorised centres across the city for issuance.
The smart card system was announced in the Delhi Budget 2025, replacing the paper ticket system introduced by the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. It was rolled out in March this year with an initial three-month transition period, later extended.
Following the launch, women queued up at depots to obtain the cards, even as the Chief Minister, Rekha Gupta, appealed to them not to panic, assuring that issuance would continue while paper tickets were gradually phased out.
Systemic gaps
Commuters have flagged gaps in implementation, particularly the exclusion of migrant women and those without a Delhi address on their Aadhaar cards. Despite being announced as inclusive of transgender persons, very few cards have been issued to them.
Under the earlier system, all women, irrespective of domicile, could travel free in DTC buses.
“I come from Noida to Saket for coaching. I do not have a Delhi address. I can travel free now, but from next month I will have to pay,” said Ritika, a student.
Some cardholders have also reported operational issues.
Latika, who frequently travels between Zakhira flyover and Paharganj, said the card allows only 45–60 minutes between taps. “I have to change multiple buses within an hour, so I end up paying for part of the journey,” she said, adding that machines often fail to read the card.
Earlier, The Hindu reported that only one transgender person had been issued the card since its launch, reportedly because their Aadhaar listed their gender as female.
Vaishali, a transgender person, said they were denied the card at a depot. “I have ‘transgender’ on my Aadhaar card. The staff told me the card was only for ‘females’,” they said.
Attempts to contact the Transport Department for a response remained unsuccessful.
The Minister said the transition to smart cards would streamline implementation, improve beneficiary management, and enhance transparency while ensuring uninterrupted benefits.
Published – July 11, 2026 01:50 am IST
