Women who rely on free travel in Delhi government buses are set to experience major changes next year. The Delhi government is preparing to replace the existing pink ticket system with a more secure and digital “Pink Saheli Smart Card” from 2026. Once this system rolls out, women will be required to use this smart card to continue enjoying free rides on Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses.
This new move is aimed at improving convenience, preventing misuse, and making the free travel program more technology-driven. The card will only be issued to female residents of Delhi.
As per DTC guidelines:
✔ Minimum age to apply: 12 years
✔ Applicant must be a woman residing in Delhi
✔ Aadhaar card with a Delhi address is mandatory
Women who meet these criteria can apply and avail the scheme. At the time of boarding the bus, passengers will need to tap the card on the Electronic Ticketing Machine (ETM) held by the conductor.
The scheme is designed specifically for Delhi residents. Women living in NCR districts like Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, or Faridabad without a Delhi-based Aadhaar will not be eligible for this benefit.
According to initial information, the rollout of the Pink Saheli Card may begin from 14 January 2026.
DTC has already selected two private agencies to manage the process.
To ensure easy access, dedicated enrollment counters will be set up at:
District Magistrate (DM) offices
SDM offices
DTC bus depots
Common Service Centres (CSC)
Women can visit any of these locations to register and collect their smart card.
Unlike some welfare schemes, there is no income limit.
Every eligible female commuter living in Delhi can apply, irrespective of her financial background.
The free bus travel scheme for women was originally launched in 2019 by the then Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government using pink paper tickets.
Now, the present government plans to move to a digital smart card system for:
More efficient verification
Reduced misuse of free tickets
Faster, seamless boarding
Better data-based planning of women’s transport needs
This transition is expected to enhance both safety and transparency in daily public transport usage by women.
With more than 20 million women traveling by DTC buses every month, this smart card is likely to become a daily necessity for female passengers. Women are advised to complete Aadhaar updates and keep required documents ready ahead of registrations in early 2026.
