The Delhi government has recently announced a big change that will soon make travelling around the city easier for many people. From October 23, 2025, women and transgender residents of Delhi can travel free of cost through city buses.
This plan will work through a special card called “Saheli Smart Card.” The aim of this new plan is to help more people, especially women, to travel safely and comfortably without worrying about ticket money.
What is the Saheli Smart Card?
The Saheli Card is basically a new version of the pink tickets that women used to get for free bus rides but now, instead of paper tickets, women and transgender people will get a smart card that they can just tap when they travel.
The card will also work under the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) system — which means you can use it not only on buses but also recharge it for other travel services like the Metro in the future.
And to get this card, you will need to show your identity proof. It will have your name and photo printed on it. Anyone who lives in Delhi over the age of 12 can apply for this card.
The Registration is to be done through DTC Portal and the cards will be issued after a full KYC verification by the banks.
Where You Can Travel Free
You can travel freely in:
- Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses
- Cluster buses (private buses that run under the Delhi government)
So, the bus that you take daily for work, school, or shopping, is now completely free. However, keep in mind that, for now, Metro travel is not free under this scheme. Yes, you can still use your Saheli Card for Metro rides, but it will cost you the regular fare.
Why This New Plan?
The Delhi government says that this plan will be executed to make the public transport safer and more affordable for women and transgender people. As many women in Delhi depend on public transport to go to work, college or run errands so, free travel means they can save money and travel without worrying about cash or tickets.
Officials also said that the new system will make the travel faster and cheaper as the Saheli Cards will remove the need to wait for paper tickets since everything will be digital.
The Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal, has said that this is part of the government’s mission to make Delhi’s public transport inclusive and modern.
Challenges To Look Forward To
While implementing the new system, we will face some challenges.
- Since Metro travel isn’t free yet, people have to rely on bus travel for affordability.
- Millions of people live in the capital region so getting the cards ready is bound to take some time.
- Since the government is paying for the free travel, it will have to manage the costs carefully to ensure the plan flows smoothly.
What This Means for Delhi
For daily travellers, this move is a huge relief, especially for students, workers, homemakers who will save a good amount of money each month. It will also make the public transport more popular and eco-friendlier as many people may choose buses over personal cars, thus reducing pollution and traffic jams.
This new system also encourages and sends a strong message about equality by including both women and transgender people in this scheme. Delhi is showing that everyone deserves the right to travel freely and safely.
