Pink Saheli smart card mandatory for free DTC bus travel
Delhi will introduce the Pink Saheli Smart Card for women to continue free travel on DTC and cluster buses, replacing the existing pink ticket system.
Delhi government has converted the Pink Saheli Smart Card into a multipurpose travel card, making it mandatory for eligible women to use it for free travel on Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses from August 1, 2026. The move replaces the existing paper-based Pink Ticket system with the digital National Common Transit Card (NCMC) platform.
The Pink Saheli smart card will replace pink paper tickets
According to the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC), female passengers will no longer be able to use pink paper tickets after July 31, 2026. Starting August 1, passengers wishing to travel free on DTC buses will need to show a valid Pink Saheli smart card. Women who do not have this card will have to purchase regular tickets for their travel.
This change is part of the Delhi government's efforts to digitize public transport services, improve transparency in subsidy distribution, and simplify passenger verification.
Pink Saheli Card Features
The Pink Saheli Smart Card has been developed as a National Common Mobility Card (NCMC). In addition to providing free travel on DTC buses for eligible women, the card can also function as a payment card after recharging it through a linked bank account or UPI
Where can the card be used
- Free travel on select DTC buses.
- Travel on the Delhi Metro after adding your balance.
- Travel on the Namo Bharat (RRTS) after recharging.
- Can be availed at participating shops and malls where digital payments are available.
Digital Application Process Launched
Delhi Transport Minister Dr. Pankaj Singh said that the process of issuing Pink Saheli smart cards, which have a debit card feature, will be completely digital. This initiative aims to make the registration, verification, and card issuance process faster and more convenient for eligible applicants.
The DTC has also launched an awareness campaign at bus depots and in buses to inform women passengers about this change before the August 1 deadline.
DTC has introduced different smart cards for passenger
Under the new smart card system, DTC has designated different card colors for different passenger groups.
- Pink card: Women passengers.
- Blue card: General passengers.
- Orange card: Senior citizens and persons with disabilities (issuance yet to begin).
The color-coded system aims to simplify identification by keeping in mind the different categories of passengers under the NCMC framework.
