Delhi Women Get Free Bus Travel With New Pink Card

Women in India's capital are getting a powerful new tool to move freely around their city without worrying about the cost.

President Droupadi Murmu launched Delhi's Pink National Common Mobility Card on Monday, giving eligible women residents free travel on all city buses. The same card also lets them pay for metro rides and other public transport, all from one digital account.

The program rolls out in phases across Delhi, with at least 50 centers ready to issue cards at District Magistrate offices and bus depot locations. Women only need minimal paperwork to apply, and each card links to their mobile number and Aadhaar identification to verify age, gender, and Delhi residency.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta says the initiative tackles a real barrier many women face. Daily commute costs add up quickly, sometimes forcing tough choices between transportation and other necessities. Free bus travel means more women can afford to reach jobs farther from home, attend classes, or get to medical appointments without financial stress.

The mobility card comes in three colors for different users. Pink cards give women free bus rides, blue cards serve general commuters, and orange cards will eventually offer monthly passes. The first phase focuses on getting pink and blue cards into hands quickly.

At the same launch event, President Murmu also introduced a program giving two free cooking gas cylinders each year to families with ration cards. About 1.55 million families will receive direct bank transfers covering the cylinder cost during Holi and Diwali festivals. The money goes straight to Aadhaar-linked accounts, making the process transparent and reducing bureaucratic delays.

The Ripple Effect

When women can travel affordably, entire families benefit. Mothers can take children to better schools across town or access specialized healthcare that wasn't reachable before. Young women can pursue education and job opportunities beyond walking distance from home. The economic boost extends beyond individual households as more women enter the workforce and contribute skills to the broader economy.

The digital integration matters too. One card working across buses, metro, and rapid transit eliminates the confusion of multiple payment systems. Women who might have avoided certain routes due to complicated ticketing now have straightforward access to Delhi's entire public transport network.

These twin programs recognize that small, practical supports create big life changes for families managing tight budgets.