Delhi has begun rolling out the Saheli Pink Smart Card, a digital mobility pass designed to provide free bus travel for women and transgender residents while modernising fare collection across the capital’s public transport network. The initiative marks a shift from paper-based ticketing to a contactless system intended to improve transparency, streamline passenger access and strengthen digital mobility infrastructure in one of India’s largest urban transport systems.
The card is being introduced across buses operated by the Delhi Transport Corporation and cluster operators, replacing the pink paper ticket system previously used for free travel schemes. Transport officials say the Saheli Pink Smart Card enables passengers to tap and travel without the need for manual ticket issuance, while automatically recording journeys through an integrated digital platform. The move is also part of India’s broader National Common Mobility Card framework, which aims to enable a single payment system across multiple modes of urban transport. With this approach, commuters can use one smart card for buses, metro systems and other transit networks, improving interoperability across city mobility services.
Officials overseeing the rollout say the card can also function as a regular payment card for other public transport modes where free travel does not apply. This allows the same device to be used across services such as metro rail or regional transit systems, reducing the need for multiple tickets and simplifying commuter access. Urban transport specialists note that digital ticketing systems are becoming increasingly important for managing large metropolitan transit networks. By replacing paper tickets with smart cards, transport agencies can gather real-time ridership data, monitor passenger flows and better plan service frequency.
Such systems also improve revenue accountability by creating an electronic record of each trip. Although travel remains free for eligible passengers under the scheme, the digital platform helps transport authorities measure usage levels and allocate subsidies more accurately.
The Saheli Pink Smart Card is linked to identity verification systems to confirm eligibility for the programme. Authorities say this helps ensure that benefits reach intended users while also enabling a streamlined registration process through designated enrolment centres across the city. Urban planners say expanding access to public transport is essential for improving mobility equity in large cities. Affordable and accessible transit allows more residents to participate in education, employment and social activities without facing high commuting costs.
Gender-focused transport policies, in particular, are often linked to higher workforce participation and safer urban mobility. Experts say women frequently rely more heavily on public transport systems than private vehicles, making reliable bus networks a critical part of inclusive urban planning.
For Delhi, where buses carry millions of passengers each day, digital fare systems may also help accelerate the transition towards more integrated and sustainable transport networks. Public buses remain one of the most energy-efficient ways to move large numbers of people in dense cities, supporting broader goals of reducing congestion and urban emissions.
Transport authorities say the rollout of the Saheli Pink Smart Card will continue across the capital in the coming months. As more commuters adopt the system, policymakers will be watching closely to see how digital ticketing reshapes travel patterns and strengthens the reliability of Delhi’s public transport ecosystem.
Delhi Launches Saheli Pink Smart Card Travel
