The Delhi government will now provide 'Pink Passes' for free travel to women in DTC buses. This facility will only be available to women residing in Delhi. The pink ticket system will be discontinued. Other women will have to pay the fare.
Delhi Free DTC Bus Pass: The provision of free travel for women in DTC buses in Delhi will now be limited to women who are permanent residents of Delhi. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced on Thursday, July 17, that the government will soon implement 'Pink Passes' for women, replacing the pink ticket system. This pass will only be available to women residing in Delhi.
Free Bus Service Scheme Started in 2019
The free bus service scheme for women in Delhi was launched on October 29, 2019. The Aam Aadmi Party government at the time started the free travel facility for women in DTC and cluster buses, keeping in mind the safety and economic empowerment of women. Under this, women had to take a pink ticket from the conductor while boarding the bus, which allowed them to travel for free.
Now, the Rekha Gupta government is bringing in Pink Passes, making changes to this scheme. The Chief Minister said that in the new system, only women residing in Delhi will be given the facility of free travel.
Women from Outside Delhi Will Not Get Benefit
After the new scheme is implemented, women coming from outside Delhi will not be able to avail of this facility. That is, if a woman travels to Delhi from Ghaziabad, Noida, Faridabad, or other surrounding areas, she will have to pay the fare to travel in DTC or cluster buses. This change is being seen as a step taken by the Delhi government to limit expenses and the beneficiary class.
What Will the New 'Pink Pass' Be Like?
The government said that the 'Pink Pass' will be completely digitalized. This pass will be issued as a 'Saheli Smart Card'. This smart card will have the woman passenger's name, photo, and necessary identification information. This card will be created under the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) system, which is already being used in Delhi Metro and Noida Metro.
What Documents Will Be Required for the Saheli Smart Card?
The following documents will be required while applying for the card:
- Aadhaar Card
- PAN Card
- Proof of residence in Delhi (Ration Card, Electricity Bill, Water Bill, etc.)
- Passport Size Photo
Other Required KYC Documents
Work is also being done to make the process of application and distribution of the card completely digital and simple so that women can easily avail of this facility.
Bus Routes Will Be Changed With the Help of IIT
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said that the DTC bus routes are being reorganized with the help of IIT (Indian Institute of Technology) to make the public transport system in Delhi more effective and convenient. This will provide better connectivity and convenient travel to the passengers.
Plan to Revive DTC from Loss
While inaugurating the Automatic Vehicle Testing Station at Nand Nagri Depot, Rekha Gupta said that DTC is currently in a loss of ₹65000 crore. Several strategic steps are being taken to overcome this. This includes making the public transport system digital and systematic.
