Good news for women in Delhi! The long-awaited Pink Saheli Smart Card for free travel in DTC buses is finally arriving.
The card will start being issued from the beginning of 2026, making bus travel easier and more convenient for women across the city.
How the Pink Saheli Card Works
The Delhi Transport Department has finalized Airtel and Muffin Payment Bank to issue these smart cards.
Women will be able to collect their cards at special counters set up across Delhi by showing their Delhi Aadhaar card as proof of identity.
There are three types of smart cards being introduced:
Pink Saheli Card – Exclusively for girls and women aged 12 and above, allowing free travel by simply tapping the card at the electronic ticketing machine (ETM) on buses.
Around 20 million women currently travel by bus in Delhi every month.
Category Bus Pass Cards – For passengers in more than 12 categories, including the disabled, elderly, sportspersons, war widows, and national award winners.
General Smart Card – Available to all passengers, functioning like a metro card.
It will include the passenger’s name and photo, and require a minimum payment of ₹120 to activate.
It can be recharged for travel on both buses and the metro.
Easy Access Across Delhi
Transport Minister Dr. Pankaj Singh confirmed that banks have been instructed to open counters at District Magistrate offices, SDM offices, bus depots, and Common Service Centers (CSCs).
This ensures women can easily obtain their cards without any hassle.
The process will begin in the new year, and if everything goes smoothly, the Pink Saheli Smart Card could be launched any time after January 14th, 2026.
This initiative promises to make commuting in Delhi safer, more convenient, and completely free for millions of women every month.
