The Delhi government has given women commuters extra time to switch to the Pink Saheli Smart Card, extending the deadline for its mandatory use until August 15, 2026.
Women can still enjoy free travel on Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and Cluster buses using the current pink paper tickets. The smart card will become compulsory for availing the benefit from August 16.
The extension comes after the government found that many eligible commuters had not yet completed the registration process for the Pink Saheli Smart Card. The digital card was to replace paper pink tickets from August 1, but the government chose to delay the transition to prevent the free travel scheme from being lost to a commuter who is still waiting for the card.
According to transport department officials, over 1.7 million Pink Saheli Smart Cards have already been issued. But the government hopes to enroll more beneficiaries before making the digital system mandatory.
Awareness campaigns are put on at bus depots, onboard announcements, and social media to encourage women to register before the new deadline.
The Pink Saheli Smart Card is based on the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) framework and will simplify the travel experience. Instead of buying a paper ticket on every journey, passengers will simply tap the smart card on the Electronic Ticketing Machine (ETM) as they board the bus. We expect this digital process to also reduce paper usage, improve transparency, and make the free travel scheme more efficient.
Officials also say the smart card is a first step towards a more integrated public transport system. In the future, it could provide more services like digital recharges and seamless travel across multiple modes of public transport (like Delhi Metro) so commuting will be easier for the public as well.
Women who have not yet obtained the Pink Saheli Smart Card are encouraged to visit authorized enrollment centers across Delhi and complete the registration process before August 15.
After the extended deadline, the paper-based pink ticket system will be discontinued, and only the smart card will be accepted for free bus travel.
The extension will benefit thousands of daily commuters who depend on the free bus travel scheme for work, education, and other essential journeys. The Delhi government takes the time to incorporate the digital system and so will not affect travel benefits for women.
