Pink Saheli Card: Paper pink tickets for women in DTC and cluster buses will be discontinued in Delhi from August 1, 2026. Now Pink Saheli NCMC Smart Card will be necessary for free travel. Know the new rule, application process and which women will get free travel.
Delhi Pink Ticket: There is going to be a big change regarding free bus travel for women in Delhi. If you travel free in DTC or cluster buses, you can no longer depend only on pink tickets. Delhi government has made it clear that the paper-based pink ticket system will be abolished from August 1, 2026. After this, the benefit of free travel will be available only to women holding Pink Saheli NCMC Smart Card.
Paper pink ticket will not be available after 31st July
According to the circular of Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC), paper pink tickets will be issued to women only till July 31, 2026. After this, it will be mandatory to have a valid Pink Saheli NCMC Card for free travel in cluster buses operated by DTC and DIMTS.
It will also be necessary to tap the card on the machine while boarding the bus. Women who do not have a card will have to buy tickets and pay fare like normal passengers.
15 lakh cards have been made, applications are still ongoing
According to Delhi Government, 15 lakh Pink Saheli Smart Cards have been issued so far. The government has also clarified that the process of making cards will continue even after August 1, so that more and more women can take advantage of this scheme.
The government says that the digital system will increase transparency and better manage the free travel scheme.
How to make Pink Saheli Card?
If you have not yet got Pink Saheli Card made, then it is important to apply soon. At present the facility of online application is not available for this card. Women can apply offline by visiting DC Office, SDM Office or authorized DTC center of Delhi. This application process is going on from 3 March 2026.
It is noteworthy that free travel for women in DTC buses was started by the Arvind Kejriwal government under the Pink Ticket Scheme. Now Rekha Gupta government is changing it to a completely smart card based system.