Now Reading: Delhi makes Pink Saheli smart card mandatory for free bus rides
-
01
Delhi makes Pink Saheli smart card mandatory for free bus rides
Delhi’s transport department has made the Pink Saheli smart card compulsory for women to travel free on DTC and cluster buses, ending the earlier paper ticket system. The change, notified under the Delhi Transport Corporation (Free and Concessional Passes) (Second Amendment) Regulations, 2026, applies to both AC and non-AC buses. Women who do not have the card can still travel by buying a ticket at the applicable fare.
The rule, effective from 30 September, also covers transgender residents of Delhi. About 19 lakh women have obtained the card since its launch in March 2026. The government said registration and card issuance will continue, and awareness campaigns will run at bus depots, on buses, on social media and in print media.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Both tv9hindi.com and aajtak.in reported the notification identically: the smart card mandate, the 30 September effective date, the 19-lakh enrolment figure and the continued registration window. Neither outlet added critical framing, opposition reaction or operational concerns. The uniform coverage reflects straight news agency style, with no discernible slant. The practical question the coverage leaves open is how many of the women who still lack the card will face disruption before the awareness campaign closes the gap.
The notification, which also extends the free-travel benefit to transgender residents, is now in force. The next item to watch is the pace of further enrolments and any complaints about access at the point of boarding.
Coverage: 2 sources, 2 neutral
Sources (2): tv9hindi.com (neutral report), aajtak.in (neutral report)
This brief was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry. Methodology and corrections.
