National Common Mobility Card (NCMC)

Launched on March 4, 2019, the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) is an interchangeable card designed by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs of the Government of India. The transport card allows the user to make travel expenses, cash withdrawals, and toll fees (toll tax). NCMC cardholders can also use it to make retail purchases and withdraw cash. More than 25 partner institutions, including the Bank of India, State Bank of India, and Punjab National Bank, and others, offer RuPay as debit, credit, or prepaid cards.

With public transport being widely utilised across India by all segments of society, there was a need to automate and digitise fare collection by transit operators. In response to this need, the Government of India introduced a game-changing innovation known as the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC). 

This innovation not only enhanced the travel experience but also promoted the shift towards cashless transactions and unified payment solutions for citizens nationwide. 

National Common Mobility Card

What Is an NCMC Card?

The National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) is an interoperable transport card introduced as part of the Prime Minister’s ‘One Nation, One Card’ initiative. It was launched on 4 March 2019. It aims to promote cashless transactions and provide a unified payment platform for commuters nationwide. Furthermore, it enables cardholders to make payments for various modes of public transport and also conduct retail transactions, including cash withdrawals, using a single card.

National Common Mobility Card Key Features

  1. Contactless – Contactless or near-field communication (NFC) technology powers NCMC’s operations. To complete transactions, users only need to touch their card on a suitable scanner, which lowers the possibility of fraud and card skimming.
  2. Interoperability – Interoperability is one of the best features of the national common mobility card. Users can use only this card to travel through multiple modes of transport in different regions of India.
  3. Security – Strong security measures are in place at the NCMC to safeguard your money and private data. It lowers the possibility of fraud by using encryption and secure channels for transactions.
  4. Cashless features – NCMC encourages cashless purchases by promoting online methods. In addition, some NCMC cards can be connected to mobile wallets, enabling users to top off their cards online using mobile apps whenever necessary.
  5. Online account management – Online account management for NCMC cardholders is simple. Through a specific website or mobile app, you can refill the card, check your balance, and see transaction history.
  6. Reloadable – Since the NCMC is a reloadable card, you can load it with more money as needed. Depending on your needs and preferences, it offers both prepaid and a debit/credit card option.

Need for NCMC Card

The Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) introduced the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) Program to ensure citizens can experience seamless travel across metros and other transport systems, along with facilitating retail shopping and purchases.

While cash payments were a traditional payment mode across public transport, they also led to multiple challenges, such as cash handling, revenue leakages, cash reconciliation, etc. An automatic system was needed to address these challenges and digitise fare collection for transit operators, which led to the introduction of the NCMC.

Uses of National Common Mobility Card

  1. For commuters, the NCMC is a flexible card because it may be used to pay for parking at specific lots in certain cities.
  2. The NCMC is mostly used for public transportation. In participating cities, it can be used on trams, suburban railroads, buses, and metro trains.
  3. At certain retailers, you might be able to use the NCMC for retail payments, depending on the type of card (prepaid or debit/credit).

National Common Mobility Card Coverage

Transport Network 

Acceptance Method 

Noida Metro 

Complete network 

Delhi Metro 

Airport Express only 

Ahmedabad Metro 

Complete network 

Goa State-bus network 

Complete network – One Goa One Card 

Surat Metro 

Under construction 

Kochi Metro 

Kochi 1 Card 

Bengaluru Namma Metro 

Complete network – One Nation One Card 

Navi Mumbai city bus network 

25 percent of the routes 

Pune Metro 

Accepted – One Pune Card 

Nagpur Metro 

Accepted – Nagpur Metro Maha Card 

Chennai Metro 

Complete network – Singara Chennai Card 

Jaipur Metro 

Under construction 

Lucknow Metro 

Under construction 

Agra Metro 

Under construction 

Kanpur Metro 

Complete network – Kanpur Metro 

How to Apply for an NCMC Card?

Around 25 plus banks in India are authorised to issue an NCMC Card. Thus, the initial step involves finding a bank that provides this card facility. Following this, you can apply for the card through online banking platforms or by visiting the bank branches. 

Regardless of the method you choose, simply follow the outlined steps to avail and start using an NCMC card:

Step 1: Obtain the required application form for an NCMC card. 

Step 2: Fill in the necessary details as per the instructions. 

Step 3: Gather and submit the supporting KYC documents along with the duly filled application form. 

Step 4: The bank will verify your documents and application details. 

Step 5: Upon successful verification, the bank will issue the NCMC card to you.

Step 6: Consult a bank representative and activate your NCMC card as per the provided instructions.

Step 7: Load funds onto your NCMC card from your bank account or digital wallet to start using it for transactions.

FAQs

How do I add money to my NCMC card?

You can go up to a kiosk or transit station that has been given permission to add money to your card (money load transaction). To top up the card balance, you must give the merchant or operator the required amount in cash. The operator will then use the POS device to complete a money add transaction.

How to get an NCMC card?

Find out if the bank where you have an account issues the NCMC card. If not, search for the bank which issues the NCMC card. Then, submit an application form and the required KYC documents through the bank’s online platform or branch to get the NCMC card.

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Advocate Shruti Goyal Advocate
Advocate Shruti Goyal is a legal expert specializing in corporate law and compliance. She writes to simplify legal topics for businesses and individuals alike.