The Delhi government has successfully launched the Saheli Pink Smart Card initiative to provide free bus travel for women and transgender residents. On the first day of operations, which coincided with Holi celebrations, officials recorded the issuance of 4,000 cards across various centers in the city. This new digital system, launched by President Droupadi Murmu and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, is designed to replace the traditional paper-based pink slips and modernize public transport travel.
Important details for applicants and eligibility rules
The Saheli Pink Smart Card is available to all female and transgender residents of Delhi aged 5 years and above. To obtain the card, applicants must visit the designated centers with a valid Aadhaar card that has a Delhi address and an active mobile number for OTP verification. The physical card is provided completely free of charge as the Delhi government bears the entire expenditure. Unlike the regular blue cards for other commuters which cost around 120 rupees, these pink cards are a dedicated welfare measure for women.
- NCMC Integration: The cards are National Common Mobility Card compliant, meaning they can be used for paid travel on the Delhi Metro and RRTS after a top-up.
- Usage: Commuters simply need to tap the card on the Electronic Ticketing Machine held by the bus conductor to validate their free journey.
- Monitoring: The system helps the government track transport usage data and prevent duplication of benefits.
Distribution centers and first day performance statistics
The government has established 50 camps across Delhi to facilitate the issuance of these smart cards. Each site has a capacity to handle 200 tokens daily to ensure a smooth registration process. While the first day saw a slow start due to the festival, officials expect a significant increase in footfall from Thursday onwards. The management of these camps is shared between the Delhi Transport Corporation and the district administration.
| Category | Description | Count/Details |
|---|---|---|
| Pink Saheli Cards | For Women and Transgender Residents | 3897 |
| Blue Cards | For Differently-abled and Concessions | 90 |
| Total Centers | Camps across Delhi locations | 50 |
| DTC Managed | Locations handled by DTC | 28 |
| Admin Managed | Locations at DM/SDM offices | 22 |
Authorized issuing partners like Airtel Payments Bank Limited and MufinPay are handling the technical rollout at these sites. Although some planned locations could not start operations on the first day due to logistical issues, the transport department is working to make all 50 centers fully operational immediately. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta mentioned that this is a major step toward making travel safer and more convenient for women in the national capital.
