Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
New Delhi, Nov 2 (IANS) Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday encouraged women to register for ‘Pink Saheli Smart Card’, saying the facility will pave the way for free and convenient travel in DTC buses for the city’s women, girls above 12 years of age and transgender persons.
Urging women and girls to enroll online for the card, CM Gupta said in a message on Twitter, “Delhi government has launched ‘Pink Saheli Smart Card’ for women and transgenders.”
The personalized smart card will have the name and photo of the cardholder. Apart from enabling free travel within the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and cluster bus network, the card will be top-up/recharge enabled, allowing its use in other transit systems as well.
“Now, daughters, sisters and mothers above 12 years of age will be able to travel free and conveniently in DTC and cluster buses,” CM Gupta said in a message.
CM Gupta said, “This initiative is an important step towards making travel easier for women in Delhi, promoting the use of public transport and providing more facilities and respect to women power.”
According to an official statement, the ‘Pink Saheli Smart Card’ will be issued under the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) framework.
It will allow free travel only on Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and cluster buses, and will support recharge and top-up functionality for use on other transit modes. “To obtain the digital card, applicants must be bonafide residents of Delhi, aged 12 years or above and possess valid proof of identity,” the statement said.
Earlier, DTC had issued Expression of Interest (EoI) for empanelment of banks for issuing smart cards for travel in all public transport systems in Delhi and bus travel cards for women/transgenders (both NCMC cards).
An official statement said that this NCMC card will be used in the NCMC compliant AFCS project using POS/ETIM in addition to other modes of public transport.
While empaneling banks and financial institutions to issue smart cards, DTC clarified that this arrangement will be for five years.
The personalized smart card will have the name and photo of the cardholder. The EOI issued by the public transport corporation states that apart from enabling free travel within the DTC and cluster bus networks, the card will be top-up/recharge enabled, allowing its use in other transit systems as well.
Online registration for Saheli Card is open on the official website of Delhi Government and portal of Saheli Card.
The Saheli card aims to replace the old paper pink ticket method, which had limitations and was prone to misuse and inefficiencies. The smart card will also ensure that the benefits reach the genuine residents. The scheme will also ensure that the scheme is not misused by people outside Delhi.
DTC is currently operating 44 bus depots in Delhi and one in Noida on 24X7 basis. As of July, it had an active fleet of 3,266 (1,950 electric and 1,694 CNG) operated from these 44 depots.
The bus depots are further divided into four zones – North, East, West and South – each headed by a regional manager, and each depot headed by a depot manager. In addition, DTC has 4 corporate offices and 40 pass sections across the capital.
–IANS
rch/and