New Delhi: Transgender individuals in Delhi will now also be able to travel ‘free’ on buses. On Monday, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s government approved a proposal to extend free travel facilities to transgender passengers on all buses operating under the DTC and Cluster schemes. This facility will be implemented on the exact same lines as the current arrangement for free travel for women through the ‘Pink Ticket’ system.
Following a meeting held at the Secretariat, the Chief Minister herself shared details regarding this decision. She stated, “Our government is committed to ensuring a life of dignity and equal opportunities for every citizen of Delhi. The transgender community has long remained marginalized, and their mobility is often hindered due to financial constraints. This decision will not only result in financial savings for them but will also enhance their access to public services.”
**’Free Pass’ Just Like for Women**
According to the Transport Department, the implementation of this scheme will be entirely modeled after the free travel scheme for women. Any individual belonging to the transgender community who is a resident of Delhi and possesses the necessary documentation will be eligible to avail the benefits of this scheme. Upon boarding a bus, they will be issued a special ticket by the conductor, the cost of which will be borne by the government. This facility will be available on both ordinary and AC routes across all buses operated by the DTC and the Transport Department’s Cluster scheme.
Access to this facility will be granted based on a Transgender Certificate issued by the Delhi Government or other official identity cards. The government believes that this step will not only alleviate financial burdens but will also help transform societal attitudes toward the transgender community as their visibility on buses increases.
Organizations working for transgender rights have welcomed this decision. Experts opine that transportation serves as a primary means of accessing education and healthcare services, and making it free is a commendable step. The Transport Department has now been directed to finalize the budgetary provisions for this scheme and issue the necessary notification.
According to the office of Delhi’s Chief Electoral Officer, approximately 1,200 transgender voters are currently listed in the electoral database. However, the actual number is believed to be significantly higher than this. In July of last year, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta stated that a personalized travel pass—bearing the holder’s name and photograph—would facilitate free travel for women and transgender residents aged 12 and above across all DTC and Cluster buses. She described this initiative as a symbol of a safer, more transparent, and women-friendly Delhi. Now, the cards issued to women—as well as to transgender individuals—will be valid for a lifetime, permitting unlimited use of public transportation without any restrictions.
