12 June,2026 12:29 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Pratap Sarnaik. Pic/X
The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) will make the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) Smart Card mandatory for women, senior citizens, and beneficiaries under the Amrit Senior Citizen category from August 1, 2026, as part of efforts to streamline concession travel benefits and promote digital ticketing across the state.
The announcement was made by Maharashtra Transport Minister and MSRTC Chairman Pratap Sarnaik, who said the move is aimed at improving transparency in passenger services, reducing manual processes, and encouraging cashless transactions within the state-run transport network.
With the August 1 deadline approaching, authorities have stepped up the registration and distribution of NCMC Smart Cards across Maharashtra.
According to official figures, around 5.1 million eligible citizens have registered for the cards so far. Of these, approximately 2.5 million cards have already been activated. The remaining registered applicants are expected to receive and activate their cards in the coming weeks.
Officials have urged eligible passengers to complete the registration and activation process before the new system comes into force to avoid disruptions while availing travel concessions on MSRTC services.
To facilitate wider access to the cards, the state has established over 4,000 NCMC Smart Card distribution centres across Maharashtra. These centres are operating in both urban and rural regions to ensure that beneficiaries can obtain their cards without having to travel long distances.
The expanded distribution network is expected to help authorities meet the growing demand as the deadline nears. Officials said efforts are being made to ensure that card issuance remains accessible and efficient across all districts.
The Transport Department has also cautioned distribution centres against any irregularities in the card issuance process.
Sarnaik said strict action would be taken against centres found charging fees above the prescribed amount for issuing NCMC Smart Cards. Such centres could face immediate cancellation of their authorisation to distribute the cards.
The warning comes amid concerns that some beneficiaries may be vulnerable to overcharging during the large-scale rollout of the smart card system.
The NCMC Smart Card initiative is intended to simplify the process through which women, senior citizens, and Amrit Senior Citizen beneficiaries avail themselves of government-supported travel concessions. Authorities believe the digital platform will improve the management of concession schemes while enhancing accountability in ticketing operations.
The card is also expected to reduce reliance on paper-based verification processes and enable faster passenger transactions on MSRTC services.
The introduction of mandatory NCMC Smart Cards for concession beneficiaries is being viewed as a significant step in the ongoing modernisation of Maharashtra's public transport infrastructure. Transport officials expect the smart mobility platform to gradually expand its reach, with a larger section of passengers likely to be integrated into the digital system in the years ahead.
