Free Bus Rides For Delhi Women, But Only If You Have This New Smart Card
The Delhi government is all set to replace the popular 'pink ticket' system with smart cards called Saheli Cards.
Starting from August 15, only women and transgender persons with Delhi residence proof will be eligible for free rides in public buses, as per The Indian Express.
This move comes under the new BJP-led administration, which wants to ensure that only local residents benefit from welfare schemes.
What Was the Pink Ticket Scheme?
Introduced in 2019 by the AAP government, the pink ticket scheme allowed any woman to travel for free in DTC and cluster buses without showing any ID or proof. Now, with Saheli Cards, the government plans to tighten the process and reduce misuse.
What Are Saheli Cards?
There will be two types of smart cards:
Non-KYC Smart Cards:
Easy to get with just a valid Delhi residence proof. These will work in both buses and the Metro, but free travel applies only to buses.
KYC Smart Cards:
These will have your name and photo, and can be topped up like a debit card. Issued by banks, they offer contactless travel and are National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) compliant.
Why This Change?
CM Rekha Gupta said in her Budget speech that welfare schemes should only help Delhi residents. She accused the previous government of 'votebank politics" and said their approach led to misuse of subsidies.
The new smart card system aims to reduce misuse while keeping the process smooth and digital.
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