Women travelling for free on Delhi buses need to know about an important rule change. From August 1, the Delhi government will make the Pink Saheli Smart Card compulsory for availing the free bus travel scheme.
If you do not have this card, you will no longer be able to get a free pink ticket and will have to pay the regular bus fare.
No Pink Saheli Card? You Will Have to Buy a Ticket
According to the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC), only women carrying a valid Pink Saheli Smart Card will receive free travel benefits from August 1.
Passengers will also have to tap the smart card while boarding the bus. Women without the card will not receive a pink ticket and must purchase a normal ticket to travel on DTC and Cluster buses.
Government Launches Special Campaign
The government said many women are still applying for the Pink Saheli Smart Card at a slow pace. To speed up the process, DTC has started a special awareness campaign.
Women travelling on buses are being encouraged to get their smart cards made as soon as possible to avoid losing the free travel benefit.
Paper Pink Tickets to Be Phased Out
The Delhi government has decided to gradually replace the existing paper-based pink ticket system with the new smart card system.
The move is aimed at making the free travel scheme more transparent and easier to manage.
Where Can You Get the Pink Saheli Card?
The Delhi government has set up 50 authorised centres across the city where eligible women can apply for the Pink Saheli Smart Card.
So far, around 11 lakh cards have been issued. The government plans to increase this number to 13 lakh by the end of July, after which the smart card will become mandatory for free bus travel.
