13 August,2026 12:07 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
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More than 1 crore passengers across Maharashtra have registered for the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) smart card introduced by the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), with over 64 lakh cards activated so far.
According to data available as of August 12, a total of 1,01,73,838 passengers had registered for the NCMC smart card, while 64,91,065 cards had been activated.
The NCMC smart card is aimed at making ticketing on ST services more convenient and reducing the need for cash transactions. In the first phase, the cards are being distributed to women, senior citizens and Amrit senior citizens.
From September 1, the NCMC smart card will be mandatory for women, senior citizens and Amrit senior citizens travelling on ST services. The corporation has asked eligible passengers who have not yet registered to complete the process at the earliest.
Maharashtra Transport Minister and MSRTC Chairman Pratap Sarnaik said, "ST is not merely a travel service but a lifeline connected to the everyday lives of people in Maharashtra. Our effort is to make the journey on this âRed Bus' more modern, digital and convenient for passengers in keeping with the times. The response to the NCMC smart card reflects passengers' trust in this digital transformation. Our objective is to increasingly use technology in ST services in the future to save passengers' time and make their journeys more convenient."
Registration for NCMC smart cards for school students across Maharashtra will begin on August 15. Authorised representatives of the MSRTC will visit schools to complete the registration process.
The corporation has advised students to register only through these authorised representatives and not at other locations.
Passengers can obtain NCMC smart cards through authorised ST depots, bus stations and the corporation's authorised agent network. Card recharge facilities will also be available through these channels.
Sarnaik said the corporation would continue expanding the use of digital services as part of its modernisation efforts.
"Passengers' trust is ST's true strength. The response from passengers to ST's journey towards modernisation by embracing digital facilities is commendable. In the coming period, we will expand the use of NCMC smart cards and give ST services a new digital form with a âpassenger first' approach," he said.
