look news india
This news is very important for lakhs of women who travel daily through public transport on the roads of Delhi. The plan to make the facility of free travel for women in Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and cluster buses completely transparent and digital has now reached its final stage. By completely abandoning the old system of paper ‘Pink Ticket’ in the capital, a complete outline has been prepared for the mandatory implementation of National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) based ‘Pink Saheli Smart Card’.
After the high-level review meeting of the Transport Department, the Transport Minister has clarified that till now Pink Saheli Smart Cards have been made for more than 19 lakh eligible women beneficiaries. The department has completed all technical and administrative preparations at the basic level. While directing the officials, the Minister said that the new system should be implemented smoothly at the ground level so that no daily commuter faces any inconvenience during the journey.
Under the new system, state-of-the-art Electronic Ticketing Machines (ETM) have been provided to the conductors deployed in buses. After boarding the bus, women passengers will have to tap their Pink Saheli smart card on this machine present near the conductor.
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Zero-fare tickets will be issued immediately: As soon as the card is tapped, the machine will automatically issue a zero-fare digital ticket.
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Real-time data on server: As soon as the tap is made, the complete details of the journey will be recorded in the central server of the Transport Department, due to which the government will be able to get accurate accounts of subsidy and passenger numbers.
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Ban on fraud: The scope for misuse has been completely eliminated by preventing repeated use of a card in the same bus.
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Multi-Utility of NCMC: By recharging money in this card, it can be used like a normal payment card in Delhi Metro and other transit systems.
The Transport Department has made it clear that after the implementation of the new system, if any woman passenger does not have a valid Pink Saheli Smart Card, she will not be entitled to free travel. In such a situation, women will have to buy tickets according to the fixed distance of travel like ordinary passengers and pay the fare through cash or UPI.
According to the rules, this card is being issued only to women, girls and transgender persons who are permanent residents of Delhi. Women passengers coming from the National Capital Region (NCR) like Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram or other states will have to take normal tickets to travel in Delhi buses.
Women who have not yet got their Pink Saheli Card made, can get it made immediately by visiting the authorized centers or DTC depots designated by the Transport Department.
The process of making the card has been kept very simple and free:
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The female applicant will have to carry her original Aadhar card and the mobile number linked to it.
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Biometric or OTP based Aadhaar authentication will be completed at the counter.
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No fee is being charged for the first time the card is issued.
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If the card is lost or damaged in future, a duplicate card can be obtained by paying the prescribed government fee.
Delhi government aims to make public transport completely cashless and hi-tech. The Transport Minister has given strict instructions to depot managers, bus drivers and conductors to communicate politely with passengers and make them aware about the card.
Special helpdesks have been activated at terminals on the busiest routes of the capital like Kashmere Gate, Anand Vihar, ITO, Dhaula Kuan and Mehrauli. Those daily commuters who do not yet have a card have been advised to get the card made by visiting their nearest center as soon as possible so that their daily free travel can continue.