Special drive launched to boost Pink Saheli Smart Card use

To boost adoption of ‘Pink Saheli Smart Cards’ for free bus travel the Delhi government has launched a special drive across buses operated by the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC).

According to officials, till now around 11 lakh cards have been distributed across the city till now and given the target to increase the figure to 13 lakh by July end, after which it maybe mandatory to use card.

“We have launched a drive in which bus conductors are asking women travellers to use Pink Smart Cards for travelling purposes. If they do not have one yet, then they will be advised to get the card,” a senior transport department official said.

The drive was launched on Monday. Despite distribution of 11 lakh cards, only 10-15 per cent of all the women travellers are using the Pink Smart Cards and the pink slips are being used by the rest of them, he added.

According to officials, the department is also planning more strictness on use of Pink Card after the summer season, when it could be made mandatory for women commuters to show the cards for travel.

Launched by President Droupadi Murmu in March, the smart card allows women and transgender residents of the national Capital to travel free of cost in Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses.

The card has replaced the pink paper ticket and is expected to enable touch-free travel, maintain digital journey records and improve transparency in revenue accounting. The smart card initiative is aimed at providing seamless access to multiple public transport systems through a single card under the ‘one nation, one card’ initiative.

While travel on DTC and cluster buses will be free for those eligible, the card can also be used for paid journeys on other public transport services such as the Delhi Metro and the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS). Each card is linked to the beneficiary’s Aadhaar and mobile number to verify age, gender and Delhi residency.