Delhi Budget: Digital Cards in Delhi to Replace Pink Tickets for Women’s Free Bus Rides
In a major move to modernise public transport, digital cards in Delhi will soon replace the pink tickets currently used for women’s free rides on state-run buses.
The announcement came as part of the Delhi Budget 2025-26, with Chief Minister Rekha Gupta confirming the launch of a smart travel card exclusively for women. The shift to digital cards for women in Delhi aims to curb corruption linked to manual ticketing while continuing the free ride benefit.
Also Read: List of Indian States Offering Free Bus Rides For Women (2025)
The initiative is part of a broader push to transform Delhi into a world-class capital with the largest electric public bus fleet. Presenting a ₹1 lakh crore budget in the Assembly, the CM allocated ₹12,952 crore to overhaul the city’s transport sector.
The digital cards for women in Delhi are designed to function as smart cards, allowing easy, repeated usage without the need for daily paper-based pink tickets.
These pink tickets were first introduced in 2019 by the previous government to encourage public transport use among women. However, recent CAG audits and reports have revealed misuse and flaws in the system.
Chief Minister Gupta, addressing the Assembly, said,
“We are committed to continuing the free ride service for women, but corruption will not be tolerated. The new digital travel cards will ensure fair usage and better monitoring.”
Modernising Delhi’s Transport System
The announcement comes alongside the government’s ambitious plan to expand the electric bus fleet in Delhi. By 2025-26, over 5,000 new electric buses will be added to the existing count of 2,152, making it the largest electric bus fleet among capital cities globally.
Also Read: Analysis of Delhi’s Bus Fleet: Percentage of Electric Buses in Delhi
The CM emphasized that all current schemes under the transport department will be evaluated and improved to ensure efficiency and transparency
The move to digital cards in Delhi aligns with the larger vision of creating a smart, world-class capital city with a modern and sustainable public transport network.
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