‘Saheli Cards’ will limit free bus travel to Delhi residents

MOVE WILL ENSURE TARGETED BUS SUBSIDY’

- Snehi Sinha [e-mail]

The Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) is set to roll out the “Saheli Smart Card” to enable free bus travel for women and transgender persons in the Capital, replacing the existing “pink ticket” system, officials said on Tuesday. The card, however, will only be available to Delhi residents, marking a major shift in eligibility criteria for the scheme.

Officials said the new regulation aims to ensure accountability in the system and plug revenue leakages.

Unlike the previous system, launched by the erstwhile Aam ‘Aadmi Party (AAP)-led government, where all women—regardless of address—were handed pink tickets by conductors, Saheli Cards will only be issued upon submission of Delhi-based address proof and Aadhaar details.

The cards, bearing the beneficiary's name and photo, must be applied for online via the DTC website and will be delivered by post.

“This is a digital reform with a targeted subsidy,” said a senior DTC official. “Only verified Delhi residents will get Saheli Cards. The goal is to plug leakages and ensure the benefit reaches the intended recipients.”

Delhi transport minister Pan-kaj Singh echoed the sentiment: “After we operationalised DEVI buses, we realised that it was generating good revenue, despite free rides for women. Of the 4.8 million-odd daily commuters of DTC, just about 20% are women and making their travel free does not impact revenue much. The smart cards have been kept for residents only to streamline the registration process and make it accountable. It is a Delhi service, for the people of Delhi.”