New Delhi: The Delhi government is likely to extend the pink ticket facility for women travelling on Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses until 15 August, senior officials said on Friday.
Under an earlier directive issued by the transport department, the Pink Saheli smart card was to become mandatory from August.
"We plan to extend the pink ticket facility until 15 August to give women travellers more time to obtain the Pink Saheli smart card," a senior official said.
So far, around 17 lakh cards have been distributed across the city. The government aims to increase this number by the end of August, after which the smart card will become mandatory.
Concerned over the slow adoption of the Pink Saheli card among women commuters, the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) has also launched a special drive across its buses, encouraging women to obtain the cards, officials said.
According to officials, the government has decided to gradually phase out the existing paper-based pink ticket and shift to a smart card-based system for women to avail themselves of free bus travel.
"All eligible women under the scheme may obtain the Pink Saheli smart card from the notified centres and counters, as per the directions issued by the transport department and DTC from time to time," officials said.
The Delhi government has set up 50 authorised centres across the city to facilitate the issuance of Pink Saheli smart cards, according to the order.