Only Delhi women to get 'lifetime' smart card for free bus travel

NEW DELHI: The Delhi government announced on Thursday that its free bus travel scheme for women will now be limited to Delhi residents, as the transport department begins work on introducing a 'lifetime' smart card to access the benefits, officials said.
The BJP-led Delhi government is preparing to initiate the registration process for women who wish to apply for the smart card, officials said. This decision follows CM Rekha Gupta's recent remarks in the Assembly, where she alleged corruption in the ‘pink ticket’ system under the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government.

"We are committed to providing this service to women. Corruption will not be tolerated. We will introduce digital travel cards for women, putting an end to the 'pink corruption' tied to physical tickets," Gupta stated.
She explained that the new digital card would allow women to travel on public buses at any time, ensuring transparency by eliminating irregularities in the ticketing process. Gupta further emphasised that the entire system would be upgraded to improve efficiency and reliability.
The pink ticket scheme was originally launched by AAP on Bhai Dooj in 2019, allowing women to travel for free on Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses. Under the scheme, women received pink-coloured single-journey passes, with the government reimbursing bus operators at Rs 10 per ticket. The voluntary initiative led to a significant increase in female passengers using public transport.
Following the BJP’s victory in the February 5 Assembly elections, marking its return to power in Delhi after 26 years, the government is expected to roll out the smart card initiative within the next few weeks.
According to officials, the smart card will only be available to women residing in Delhi and will grant them unlimited free travel within the city. The government is prioritising the scheme to enhance accessibility and ensure its benefits reach genuine residents.
During the Budget Session on March 25, Gupta, who also serves as the finance minister, allocated Rs 12,952 crore for the development of Delhi’s public transport system in the 2025-26 Budget—a significant increase from the Rs 9,337 crore allocated the previous year.