NEW DELHI: Women commuters in Delhi are likely to continue availing free travel through paper-based pink tickets on DTC buses until August 15, with the city government planning to extend the facility to allow more time for passengers to obtain the mandatory ‘Pink Saheli’ smart card.The transport department had earlier directed that the Pink Saheli smart card would become mandatory for availing free bus travel from August.“We plan to extend the pink ticket facility till August 15, give some more time to women travellers to get the ‘Pink Saheli’ smart card,” a senior officer said.Around 17 lakh Pink Saheli card have been distributed so far, and the government aims to increase the number by the end of August, after which the smart card will be made mandatory.Concerned over the slow adoption of the card, the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) has launched a special awareness drive across its buses, urging women commuters to apply for the Pink Saheli card, officials said.According to officials, the government has decided to gradually phase out the existing paper-based pink tickets and transition to a smart card-based system for providing free bus travel to eligible women.“All eligible women under the scheme may obtain the Pink Saheli smart card from the notified centres, counters as per the directions issued by the transport department and DTC from time to time,” they said.The Delhi government has set up 50 authorised centres across the city to facilitate the issuance of Pink Saheli smart cards, the order said.(With PTI inputs)
