Delhi Digitizes Bus Fare: DTC Introduces Smart Cards for Women, Transgender Commuters

New Delhi, Jul 7 (PTI) – In a significant move aimed at digitising fare collection and ensuring transparent travel benefits for women and transgender commuters, the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) has issued an expression of interest (EoI) to banks and financial institutions.

The objective is to introduce smart cards under the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) framework.

As per the notice released by DTC, the selected banks will play a key role in enabling travel through smart cards that can be used across all public transportation within the capital.

These cards aim to replace the existing 'pink ticket' system, which currently allows women to travel for free on buses.

Moreover, during her Budget Day speech, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta criticised the prior use of paper-based pink tickets, claiming that it was a significant source of corruption under the previous administration.

She announced that the new system would enable women to travel without the need for paper-based tickets, using secure digital cards linked to their identity instead.