Smart Card: There’s a new update regarding the free travel scheme for women on DTC buses in Delhi. The Delhi government is set to introduce a lifetime free smart card, which will replace the ‘pink ticket’ initiative that was started by the Aam Aadmi Party. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has already stated that the pink ticket program will be discontinued, citing concerns over a significant scam associated with it that needs to be addressed.
Will allow women to travel for free
The government is working on a proposal for a new scheme that will allow women to travel for free on DTC buses without needing the pink tickets. Once this is rolled out, women will be able to use smart cards for their journeys. In her budget speech, CM Rekha Gupta highlighted various government initiatives planned for Delhi, including the Ayushman Card, Mahila Samridhi Yojana, and the new smart cards. The government has confirmed that the pink ticket scheme, which began in 2019, will come to an end. It’s expected that the process for issuing smart cards for free travel will kick off after April 25, although it hasn’t been officially approved yet.
Final decision is pending
The final decision on how to implement the smart card system is still pending. To prevent any individual from obtaining more than one smart card, the application process will be available online. After applying through the online portal, women can pick up their smart cards at the nearest DTC bus depot, but they will need to provide proof of being a permanent resident of Delhi. A Delhi Aadhar card will be required for this scheme. According to Delhi’s Transport Minister Pankaj Singh, this initiative is specifically for the women of Delhi, meaning only they will benefit from it.
A residence certificate will also be necessary. Consequently, women living in NCR areas like Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, and Faridabad might find themselves in a tough spot. For instance, if you live in Noida and work in Delhi, you may still need to purchase a ticket when traveling on a DTC bus. However, according to the Transport Minister, this is still under consideration and the final decision is yet to be taken.