The Delhi government has introduced several new security features to the ‘Pink Saheli’ smart card to make the free travel facility for women on the capital’s buses more transparent and secure. This card will become mandatory for free bus travel starting August 1, and a new technical system has been implemented to prevent its misuse. Under this new system, a free ticket cannot be issued twice on the same bus using the same ‘Pink Saheli’ smart card. This eliminates the possibility of fraudulently obtaining tickets through the repeated use of a single card. Additionally, the free ticket issued via the ‘Pink Saheli’ card will now display the female passenger’s name, boarding point, and destination. This ensures a complete record of the journey is maintained, allowing for verification if necessary.
From August 1, only female residents of Delhi will be eligible for free bus travel in the capital. This new system has been introduced to address concerns about a single card being used by multiple women. According to a senior DTC official, under the new system, once a female passenger obtains a free ticket by tapping her ‘Pink Saheli’ card on the Electronic Ticketing Machine (ETM) of a DTC or cluster bus, a second free ticket cannot be issued using the same card on that same bus. The official explained that this restriction remains in effect until the bus reaches its final stop. Once the bus reaches the final stop and departs for the return leg of its route, its trip number changes; at that point, a free ticket can once again be obtained on that bus using the same ‘Pink Saheli’ card.
No repeat free ticket on the same bus
The DTC has stated that while a free ticket cannot be issued twice on the same bus using a single card, there are no restrictions on traveling across different buses. According to a DTC official, under the new system, if a female passenger obtains a free ticket on a bus using the ‘Pink Saheli’ card and subsequently transfers to another DTC or Cluster bus, she will be able to use the same card to get a free ticket on the second bus without any hassle. The official clarified that the new security feature has been implemented solely to prevent the repeated use of a single card on the same bus. The objective is to ensure that multiple people cannot use one card simultaneously and to prevent misuse of the free travel scheme.
Curbing Fraud in Free Bus Travel
DTC states that these changes aim to prevent misuse of the free travel facility and ensure that the scheme’s benefits reach only genuinely eligible female passengers. Under the new system, the use of each ‘Pink Card’ will be restricted to the actual cardholder. This will make the e-ticketing system more transparent, making it much easier to detect any attempted misuse compared to the past.
Female Passenger’s Name to be Printed on the Ticket for the First Time
Until now, tickets issued on Delhi buses did not display the passenger’s name. However, starting August 1, free tickets issued via the ‘Pink Saheli’ smart card will display the female passenger’s name, boarding point, and destination. During ticket inspections, the checking team will be able to verify that the name on the ticket matches the name associated with the ‘Pink Card’. This will make it easy to confirm that the woman availing the free travel is the same person to whom the card was issued.
Smart Cards Being Issued at 50 Centers in Delhi
According to an order issued by the DTC, starting August 1, free tickets will be issued only to women who tap their valid ‘Pink Saheli’ smart card on the e-ticketing machine (ETM) while traveling. The free travel facility will not be available without the card. Keeping the convenience of women in mind, the Delhi government has set up 50 authorized centers in the capital where eligible women can get their ‘Pink Saheli’ smart cards made. The Transport Department and the DTC are issuing cards from these authorized centers and counters in accordance with periodically issued guidelines.
According to the government, approximately 15 lakh ‘Pink Saheli’ smart cards have been distributed to women so far. The government has urged eligible women to get their cards made in time so that they can continue to avail the benefit of free travel on Delhi buses without any hassle after August 1.
