Delhi Unveils Smart Card-Only Free Bus Travel for Women: Residency Now Mandatory
Delhi is taking a big step in digitalizing how women access free travel on city buses, but there’s a catch—not everyone gets to join the ride. The city government has announced they'll scrap the pink ticket system and require women to apply for a ‘lifetime smart card’, and here’s the twist: only Delhi residents will be eligible.
This change arrives after widespread complaints of ‘pink corruption’ in the original scheme, which handed out pink tickets for each DTC and cluster bus ride—a method officials say became a loophole for fraud and waste. Now, women looking for free rides will have to register for a smart card, and bring along documents showing they live in Delhi. Transport department officials say this overhaul aims to finally cut out misuse. Sound simple? Well, the move could sideline thousands of regular commuters from neighboring NCR cities like Noida, Ghaziabad, and Gurugram, who depend on DTC routes crossing city borders daily.
The buzz in government circles is that this isn’t just a crackdown on cheating, but a broader push to modernize Delhi's public transport. The city’s latest budget underscores this, reserving a hefty ₹12,952 crore for transport in 2025-26—a jump of over ₹3,600 crore from last year. Officials argue the extra money and digital shift will lead to more transparent, efficient service, and wipe out the fraud that dogged the pink tickets. For women with the new card, the scheme means truly unlimited travel on the DTC network within Delhi, once their address checks out.
Mixed Reactions and Unanswered Questions Loom Over Smart Card Policy
Delhi’s Chief Minister Rekha Gupta is adamant that every woman resident of Delhi will benefit, but policymakers haven’t ironed out how to handle thousands who live in NCR but work, study, or depend on hospitals in the capital. Right now, the plan is to exclude them. This triggered strong pushback online and from people whose daily routine relies on these cross-border buses—a group that often includes women from lower-income households needing affordable commutes the most.
Transport Minister Pankaj Singh has tried to soften the blow, saying a final decision for or against NCR residents is still under review. But as things stand, officials are preparing to roll out registration for smart cards in the coming weeks, focusing exclusively on Delhi addresses. It's a move the BJP-led administration says is necessary, contrasting sharply with the previous AAP government's more open-ended policy.
Women who want in on the new plan will need to gather up official address proof—think Aadhaar card, driver’s license showing a Delhi address, or a ration card registered inside the city. Registration points and online sign-ups are expected to be announced soon. The old pink tickets will be phased out gradually as the system ramps up, and transport staff are prepping for the technical transition. For women who qualify, the scheme does promise an easier, one-time application for lifelong unlimited bus travel, dodging the hassle of single-ride tickets and the risk of running into corrupt practices.
But this isn’t just about free rides. With Delhi doubling down on digital reforms, the message is clear—the city wants to lead in shaping transparent, accountable urban transport. For now, though, if you’re a woman living outside the capital but commute in every day, the future of your bus ride is still up in the air. Either way, Delhi just set the tone for a new chapter in its public transport story—with free bus travel for women, only if you have the address to match.