Delhi to Replace Pink Bus Tickets with Smart Cards for Women

Delhi Transport Corporation is preparing to phase out its decades-old paper pink ticket system for women commuters, replacing it with a digitalized smart card mechanism. The Pink Sehli Smart Card will serve as the primary identification for women availing the free bus travel scheme on DTC routes across the capital.

The transition represents a modernization push by the Delhi government to streamline its subsidized transport program. Officials said the smart card system would improve operational efficiency while maintaining women's access to free public transportation, a flagship welfare initiative in the city.

Currently, women passengers receive complimentary pink tickets issued by bus conductors for every journey. The new system aims to transition from this manual process to an automated digital framework, allowing for better tracking and management of the scheme.

The Delhi government is expected to issue a formal notification announcing the changeover timeline and implementation details in the coming weeks. Transit authorities have not yet specified a deadline for the complete phase-out of paper tickets, though the shift toward smart cards is anticipated to commence soon after official approval.

The Pink Sehli Smart Card initiative aligns with Delhi's broader digitalization efforts across public services while sustaining the women's free travel benefit that has been operational for several years.