Women living in Delhi will now need a Pink Saheli Smart Card to get free rides on DTC and cluster buses, as per a new Delhi Transport Department notice.

The rule applies to both AC and non-AC buses run under the DTC and cluster bus system. Women who live in Delhi and qualify for the free bus travel scheme can use the service by showing their Pink Saheli Smart Card, which works through the National Common Mobility Card system.

Passengers can also choose to pay the regular bus fare and buy a ticket instead of using the free travel scheme.

The new rule comes after changes were made to the Delhi Transport Corporation (Free and Concessional Passes) Regulations, 2026. The rule also covers transgender people who live in Delhi.

People who do not qualify for free travel can still use DTC and cluster buses by paying the required fare.

The Pink Saheli Smart Card was launched in March 2026. It replaced the paper pink tickets that were earlier used by women for free bus rides. The Transport Department had earlier said that the card would become required for free travel from September 30.

The Delhi government is also working to make more women aware of the new system. Information about the card will be shared through announcements at bus depots and on buses, along with social media, newspapers and other channels.

So far, around 19 lakh women have used the smart card since its launch.

Women who have not applied for the card yet can still register and get the card, officials said.

A 28-year-old sanitation worker was allegedly stabbed to death while collecting garbage in East Delhi’s Kalyanpuri on Sunday morning.

The victim, Anil Kumar, worked as a contractual employee with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). Police said he was near a garbage collection van when a man came up to him and attacked him with a knife.

The attack was caught on CCTV camera. The 90-second video reportedly shows a man in a yellow T-shirt reaching the spot and looking around. He then walks towards Anil, holds him by the collar and allegedly stabs him several times.

The man then leaves the spot. Two other men can be seen nearby during the attack, but they did not step in.

Anil rushed to hospital after attack

Police said Anil was working as a helper on the garbage collection van. The driver was close to the spot when the attack took place.

After the stabbing, the driver took Anil to a nearby hospital in an e-rickshaw. Doctors later declared him dead.

Police said the suspect has been identified. He is also said to be a private sanitation worker from the same area.

According to the police, the killing may have followed a personal dispute. The suspect is believed to have been angry with Anil and the driver over their visits to his house when he was away.

Police are still checking the exact reason behind the attack.

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— Sudarshan News Delhi (@SudarshanNewsDL) August 16, 2026

Family demands action against accused

After Anil’s death, his family members and local residents gathered at the hospital and called for quick action against the suspect.

AAP MLA Kuldeep Kumar also reached the hospital and met Anil’s family. He criticised the Delhi government over the law and order situation and asked for financial help for the victim’s family.

Kumar also demanded an “encounter” against the accused.

He said that a worker who leaves home early in the morning to collect garbage had been killed while doing his job.

AAP MLA warns of garbage collection stoppage

Kumar also warned that sanitation workers could stop garbage collection across Delhi if Anil’s family does not get justice.

He said workers would stop their duties until action is taken in the case and the family gets justice.

A police officer later reached the hospital and spoke with the MLA and Anil’s relatives. The officer assured them that action would be taken against the accused.

Police are now investigating the case and checking what led to the deadly attack.

The Delhi Taxi and Tourist Transporters and Tour Operators Association has announced a protest march to Parliament on August 4 against the government’s E20 petrol policy. The group says many transporters are worried that the fuel is affecting older vehicles by reducing mileage, raising repair costs, and causing engine problems. The Central government, however, says E20 fuel is safe, cleaner than regular petrol, and helps farmers by creating more demand for ethanol.

At a press conference on Friday, association president Sanjay Samrat spoke about the concerns raised by transport operators from different parts of the country. Holding sugarcane during the event, he said many vehicle owners have shared complaints after using E20 petrol.

Samrat said several transporters have reported lower fuel mileage and higher spending on vehicle repairs. He also said many owners fear that long-term use of E20 fuel could affect engine life. According to him, many vehicles made before 2015 were not built for petrol with 20 percent ethanol, while newer models are better prepared for such fuel.

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has rejected these claims. The Ministry said India’s ethanol blending plan has moved forward step by step over more than 20 years. It also said there is no plan at present to raise the ethanol level beyond 20 percent.

Replying to comparisons with Brazil, the Ministry said ethanol has been used as a vehicle fuel in many countries for more than 100 years. It added that India’s move toward ethanol-blended petrol has been planned through policy changes, investment, and higher production over many years.

The Ministry also said work on ethanol blending started long before the current government came to power. A pilot project began in 2001, the programme was announced in 2004, and petrol with 5 percent ethanol reached several states by 2006. The policy was also published in the Gazette of India in January 2013.

Officials said India first planned to reach 5 percent ethanol blending in 10 states and Union Territories. However, progress was slow, and blending stayed at about 1.5 percent until 2014.

According to the Ministry, the main problem was low ethanol production. At that time, most ethanol came from sugarcane, which is a seasonal crop. Annual production was about 400 crore litres, which was too low to meet higher blending goals.

The government said things changed after the National Policy on Biofuels was launched in May 2018. The policy focused on increasing ethanol production, bringing in more investment, and building the system needed to support higher blending levels. Officials say these steps have helped reduce India’s dependence on imported crude oil while supporting cleaner fuel.