Archive · 16 Aug 2026
Delhi extends pink ticket facility for women till August end
The government of Delhi runs buses in the city.
Women can ride these buses for free.
Right now, they get a pink paper ticket for the free ride.
The government wanted everyone to use a special card called the Pink Saheli smart card instead.
That card was going to become compulsory on August 16.
The government has now decided to wait a little longer.
It has extended the pink paper ticket until August 31.
That means women can keep using paper tickets for a few more weeks.
During this time, the government will spread awareness about the new card.
After August, the smart card will be the only way to get the free bus ride.
The Delhi government extended the paper-based pink ticket facility for women in DTC and DoT (Cluster) buses until August 31.
The Pink Saheli smart card will become mandatory for free bus travel from September 1.
The extension was granted considering the festive season and Raksha Bandhan.
Around 18,13,866 Pink Saheli smart cards have been issued so far.
Fifty authorised centres have been set up across Delhi to facilitate Pink Saheli smart card issuance.
- Who
- The Delhi government, Transport Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, and women passengers in Delhi.
- What
- Extension of the paper-based pink ticket facility for free bus travel in DTC and DoT (Cluster) buses until August 31, ahead of making the Pink Saheli smart card mandatory from September 1.
- When
- Order issued on Saturday; the extension runs until August 31, after which the smart card will be mandatory (initially planned for August 16).
- Where
- Delhi, in Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and DoT (Cluster) buses.
- Why
- To allow a gradual phase-out of paper tickets and shift to a smart card-based system while boosting awareness and card distribution, and to ensure convenience during the festive season and Raksha Bandhan.
Gradual Transition
Immediate Mandate
Timeline for smart card mandate
Gradual Transition
Extending the paper ticket facility to August 31 gives women more time to obtain cards and avoids inconvenience during the festive season and Raksha Bandhan.
Immediate Mandate
The smart card was originally set to become mandatory from August 16; delaying it may slow the transition to a technology-driven system.
- Facility
- Free bus travel for women via paper-based pink tickets
- Extended until
- August 31
- Smart card mandatory from
- September 1
- Originally planned mandatory date
- August 16 (Pink Saheli smart card)
- Smart cards issued so far
- 18,13,866 (around 18 lakh)
- Authorised card issuance centres
- 50 across Delhi
- Buses covered
- DTC and DoT (Cluster) buses
- Future system
- Pink Saheli smart card-based travel replacing paper tickets
