Free Rides on the chopping block? new rules change the game for women commuters
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): The scheme of free travel for women in Delhi's DTC and cluster buses is going to undergo a major change. The Delhi government is preparing to discontinue the existing 'Pink Ticket' system and replace it with the 'Pink Saheli Smart Card'. Under this new system, which will start from the new year, women aged 12 years and above will be able to travel for free only through this card. However, due to this change in rules, thousands of women who were taking advantage of this facility till now will be excluded from the scope of free travel.
Only women residents of Delhi will get the benefit
According to sources in the Transport Department, preparations for issuing the smart cards are nearly complete, and the application process will begin soon. According to a report in the Times of India, Aadhaar card is mandatory for applying for this card. This means that this card will only be issued to women who are permanent residents of Delhi and have an Aadhaar card with a Delhi address. Therefore, women living outside Delhi will no longer be eligible for this scheme.
Noida-Gurugram women deprived of facilities
This new rule will have the greatest impact on working women who live in NCR cities like Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, and Faridabad but travel to Delhi for work. Under the current pink ticket system, conductors did not ask for any identification, allowing women from the NCR to travel freely on Delhi buses. However, after the new system is implemented, these women, despite not being residents of Delhi, will now have to purchase tickets to travel on buses.
No card, no free travel
The department has also clarified that to avail of the free travel privilege, it will be mandatory to have the 'Pink Saheli Smart Card' with them during the journey. Upon boarding the bus, women will have to present this card to the conductor, who will tap it on the electronic ticketing machine. If a woman has obtained the card but has forgotten it at home or does not have it with her during the journey, she will not be allowed to travel free of charge. In such a case, she will have to pay the full fare and purchase a ticket like any other passenger.