In a major step towards digitising Maharashtra’s public transport system, the state government has made the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) compulsory for women, senior citizens and ‘Amrit’ senior citizen passengers travelling on Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) buses from August 1, 2026.
Announcing the decision, Transport Minister and MSRTC Chairman Pratap Sarnaik said the initiative is aimed at ensuring greater transparency, convenience and seamless digital transactions in passenger services.
With the deadline nearing, the statewide registration and distribution drive for NCMC smart cards has gained momentum. So far, nearly 51 lakh citizens across Maharashtra have registered for the card, while around 25 lakh cards have already been activated. Officials said the remaining registered beneficiaries’ cards would be activated soon and urged eligible passengers to complete the process without delay.
To make the cards easily accessible, more than 4,000 NCMC smart card distribution centres have been set up across Maharashtra. These centres are catering to both rural and urban areas to ensure smooth and widespread distribution.
Sarnaik also warned against irregularities in the card issuance process. He said strict action would be taken against any distribution centre found charging more than the prescribed fee, adding that licences of such centres would be cancelled immediately.
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