Delhi Extends DTC Pink Ticket Validity to Sept 17 for Pink Saheli Card Shift
Women commuting on Delhi Transport Corporation buses will be able to continue using paper pink tickets for free travel until September 17, following a decision by the Delhi government to extend the transition period before the Pink Saheli smart card becomes mandatory.
Delhi Transport Minister Pankaj Singh announced the extension on Monday, noting that the move aims to ensure uninterrupted free travel for women across the national capital while the new system is phased in.
The transport department had previously scheduled August 31 as the cutoff date to make the Pink Saheli smart card mandatory for all female passengers seeking fare-free rides on state-run buses. That deadline has now been deferred by over two weeks.
According to the transport minister, pink tickets will continue to be issued to female passengers until September 17, which marks the birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The revised timeline ensures that women continue to avail themselves of the free travel facility without facing difficulties during the transition phase. The Pink Saheli smart card arrangement will be fully implemented immediately following the new September 17 deadline.
Singh reported that public adoption of the new digital initiative has been encouraging. Nearly 19 lakh women across Delhi have already registered or submitted applications for the Pink Saheli smart card ahead of the full rollout.
The minister expressed satisfaction with the registration numbers, stating that women across the city have shown significant enthusiasm for the initiative as the government prepares to replace physical paper tickets with smart cards on Delhi Transport Corporation services.
