These women won't be able to travel for free on Delhi government buses; know this important information before leaving home

Delhi Saheli Smart Card: The rules for free travel for women on Delhi government buses are about to change. Not every woman will now be eligible for this facility. It's important to know this crucial information before leaving home.

Delhi Saheli Smart Card: Free travel for women on Delhi government buses has been a great relief for a long time. Until now, millions of women have been traveling daily using pink tickets. But this system is about to change. The Delhi government is preparing to introduce the Pink Saheli Smart Card in place of the pink tickets. This change could lead to the discontinuation of free travel for some women.

If you live in Delhi and travel daily by DTC or cluster buses, it's important to know before leaving home whether you will be eligible for the Pink Saheli Smart Card under the new rules. Let's tell you which women will not be able to get the Pink Saheli Smart Card.

Which women will not get the benefit of free travel?

After the implementation of the Pink Saheli Smart Card, free travel will only be available to women who meet the specified conditions. First of all, this card will only be for permanent residents of Delhi. That is, those who do not have a valid Delhi address or identification will not be able to avail themselves of the benefit of free travel. The second important condition is related to age. This card will not be issued to girls under 12 years of age.

Therefore, they will not be able to travel for free directly like with the pink tickets. In addition, women who have not obtained a smart card will also not get the benefit of free travel. This means that now, if women want to travel for free, a card will be mandatory. Currently, no income limit has been set for the card. However, free travel may be discontinued if the identity and age requirements are not met.

What is the process for getting the card?

The application process for the Pink Saheli Smart Card is being made available both online and offline. First, women will have to register on the Delhi Transport Corporation's (DTC) portal. During registration, they will have to select the bank from which they want to get the card. After that, they will have to complete the KYC process at the selected bank using their Aadhaar card. Once the process is complete, the bank will send the Saheli Smart Card directly to the home address.

The next important step after receiving the card is to activate it. This will be done through the DTC's Automatic Fare Collection System (AFCS). After activation, the card will be ready for free travel on buses. If needed, beneficiaries can top it up like a metro card and use it at other locations as well. In addition, the Delhi government is planning to open counters at various locations for offline applications. Banks have been instructed to set up counters at DM offices, SDM offices, bus depots, and CSCs (Common Service Centers).