Saheli Pink Smart Card 2026: Eligibility, Benefits, How to Apply, Centres & Full Details

President Droupadi Murmu, in the presence of Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, inaugurated the Saheli Pink National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) on March 2, 2026.

Saheli Pink Card provides free bus travel only to eligible women and transgender residents of Delhi.

The card replaces the paper-based pink tickets previously used for free bus travel in Delhi and introduces a contactless smart card system under the National Common Mobility Card platform.

The benefit applies exclusively to buses operated by Delhi Transport Corporation and Cluster services. Other categories of passengers are not covered under the free travel provision.

While bus travel is free for eligible beneficiaries, the same card can also be recharged and used for paid travel on systems such as the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), enabling a single smart card for multiple transport modes.

In a related development, the Delhi government has announced the establishment of around 50 centres across the city to facilitate the issuance of the “Pink Saheli” cards for women and transgender beneficiaries.

These centres will function through offices of District Magistrates (DMs), Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs), and select Delhi Transport Corporation locations.

Each card will be linked to the beneficiary’s mobile number and Aadhaar to verify age, gender and Delhi residency.

What is the Saheli Pink NCMC Smart Card?

The Saheli Pink NCMC Smart Card is a contactless smart mobility card introduced by the Government of NCT of Delhi to provide seamless and dignified free bus travel to Delhi resident women.

It replaces the existing paper-based free travel tickets with a modern smart card system.

The card:

• Provides free travel on Delhi Transport Corporation buses
• Can be recharged for use on Metro and other transport systems
• Operates under the “One Nation, One Card” initiative

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Who is Eligible?

Applicants must meet all of the following conditions:

• Must be a bona fide resident of Delhi
• Must be a woman or transgender individual
• Must be 12 years of age or older
• Must possess Aadhaar or Voter ID linked to a Delhi address
• Must have an active mobile number

Only one card is issued per Aadhaar.

Key Features

• Free travel on all DTC and Cluster buses
• Instant issuance at authorised counters
• Free bus rides for women and transgender people in Delhi
• Aadhaar-based verification to prevent duplication
• Contactless smart card under the NCMC framework
• Recharge facility for Metro and other public transport systems

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Documents Required

• Original Aadhaar Card (Delhi address mandatory)
• Mobile number linked to Aadhaar

Verification is conducted on the spot, and the card is issued over the counter after successful authentication.

How to Apply

Offline Application (Active from March 3, 2026)

Distribution began on March 3, 2026.

Timings: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, all days
Centres: Around 50 authorised centres across Delhi

Application Locations Include:

• Deputy Commissioner (DC) Offices across Central, East, West, North, South, South-West, North-East, North-West, South-East, Old Delhi, Central North and Outer North districts.
• SDM Offices including Delhi Cantt, Adarsh Nagar, Yamuna Vihar, Kirari/Nangloi Jat, Mehrauli, Dwarka, Badarpur and Bawana.
• DTC Pass Sections and Depots, including Banda Bahadur Marg, Burari, Uttam Nagar, Nehru Place, Shadipur, Kashmiri Gate, Rohini Sec-22, Hauz Khas, Shahdara, Mangol Puri, Punjabi Bagh, Lajpat Nagar, JNU, DU North Campus, Jamia and others.

At the centre:

• The card is issued after approval
• Aadhaar verification is conducted
• Details are authenticated

How the Card Works

Passengers must:

• Carry the card during travel
• Tap or validate at the conductor’s ETM machine
• Use it personally (non-transferable)

For Metro or other public transport systems, the card can be recharged before travel.

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Free Travel And Other Benefits:

The Saheli Pink Smart Card offers more than just a free ride; it integrates multiple features:

Comparison: Old Pink Ticket vs. Pink Smart Card

Important Guidelines

• Free travel is only for eligible Delhi resident women
• The card is issued instantly after verification
• Misuse or transfer of the card is prohibited under the scheme guidelines
• Beneficiaries must carry the card while travelling

The scheme promotes safe, affordable and inclusive mobility for women while strengthening Delhi’s digital public transport ecosystem under the NCMC framework.

The Saheli Pink NCMC Smart Card replaces paper-based free bus tickets with a contactless, Aadhaar-verified smart card system. Issuance began on March 3, 2026, through 50 authorised centres operating daily from 09:00 AM to 05:00 PM.

It provides free travel on DTC and Cluster buses and supports recharge for Metro and other transport systems under the National Common Mobility Card platform.