Over 35 lakh women have used the Pink Saheli Smart Card for free travel on DTC and Cluster buses in Delhi in the first six days of October. The NCMC enabled card replaces paper tickets and is being distributed through 38 centres across the capital.
Over 35 lakh women commuting on Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and Cluster buses uses the Pink Saheli Smart Card in the first six days of October.The National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) enabled system provides free travel to eligible women and transgender residents of Delhi across both air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned buses.
According to transport authorities, more than 25 lakh women have used the digital pass system since October 3 following official notifications making the smart card mandatory for free bus transit.
The tap-and-go digital card replaces the legacy paper-based pink ticket system, requiring passengers to tap their card on Electronic Ticketing Machines (ETMs) upon boarding. Designed as a unified mobility tool, the smart card can also be recharged online for paid travel on the Delhi Metro and Rapid Rail (RRTS) networks.
To ensure smooth enrollment across the capital, the Transport Department has established 38 dedicated distribution centres and organized neighborhood registration camps. High footfall locations including key transit hubs such as Kashmiri Gate, Sarojini Nagar, Nehru Place, Rohini, Shahdara, Uttam Nagar, Punjabi Bagh and Dwarka are currently facilitating card issuance.
Eligible beneficiaries aged five and above must provide a Delhi addressed Aadhaar card and an Aadhaar linked mobile number for identity verification and OTP authentication. The initial smart card is issued free of charge. However, cards for lost or damaged units incur a nominal fee. To streamline queue management, commuters can pre-register online through the designated portal before collecting their physical card at an authorized center.
Read more about the card here.
Addressing long queues at verification centers, Transport Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh assured commuters that registration counters and card-issuance camps will remain operational until every eligible resident receives a card.
"Women who have not yet obtained their smart card need not worry, as registration will continue seamlessly without any abrupt cutoff," Minister Singh stated. He noted that average daily female ridership using the card has crossed 5 lakh trips, demonstrating rapid public adaptation.
Transport officials added that awareness campaigns via depot broadcasts, in-bus announcements, and digital media are ongoing to guide passengers through the onboarding process.
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