The Delhi government will soon launch the registration process for ‘smart cards’ that would allow women to travel for free on buses, an official said.
While the department is yet to iron out the details of the scheme, it has been confirmed that the cards will have a “lifetime” validity and will be applicable only to bona fide residents of Delhi.
‘Not for illegal immigrants’
The move comes days after Chief Minister Rekha Gupta alleged corruption in the existing ‘pink ticket’ system under the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. “The card will allow women to travel freely on public buses anytime, eliminating corruption linked to ticketing,” she had said, adding that the ticketing system will be fully digitised to enhance efficiency.
Under the ‘pink ticket’ scheme, launched by AAP in 2019, women received single-journey passes , with the government covering the cost — around ₹10 per ticket — and compensating the bus companies based on the total number of tickets issued.
As per the eligibility criteria of the new scheme, the lifetime smart card will be issued only to women residing in Delhi, allowing them to travel anywhere, any time without any limitations, an official said.
Presenting the ₹1 lakh crore Delhi budget for 2025-26 on March 25, CM Gupta, who also holds the Finance portfolio, allocated ₹12,952 crore for the development of public transport system in the Capital, marking a significant rise from last year’s allotment of ₹9,337 crore.
Published – April 04, 2025 05:19 am IST