NCMC Smart Cards Mandatory For Women And Senior Citizens On MSRTC Buses From August 1
NCMC Smart Cards Mandatory For Women And Senior Citizens On MSRTC Buses From August 1
Mumbai, June 13, 2026: In a major step towards digitising public transport services and improving transparency in ticketing, Maharashtra Transport Minister and Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) Chairman Pratap Sarnaik has announced that the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) Smart Card will become mandatory for women, senior citizens, and Amrit Senior Citizen passengers availing travel concessions on MSRTC buses from August 1, 2026.
The minister said the state-wide registration and distribution drive for NCMC Smart Cards has been accelerated ahead of the deadline. So far, around 51 lakh citizens have registered for the smart card, while approximately 25 lakh cards have already been activated. The remaining registered beneficiaries are expected to receive activated cards soon.
To ensure smooth implementation and prevent inconvenience to passengers, more than 4,000 NCMC Smart Card distribution centres have been established across Maharashtra. These centres are functioning in both urban and rural areas to facilitate easy access to the cards.
Sarnaik also warned against any malpractice in the distribution process. He stated that strict action will be taken against centres charging more than the prescribed fee for issuing smart cards. Distribution licences of such centres will be cancelled immediately if irregularities are found.
According to the Transport Department, the NCMC Smart Card system is being introduced to ensure seamless access to government travel concessions, bring greater transparency to ticket issuance, and modernise travel management across the state transport network.
Beneficiaries eligible for concession schemes have been urged to obtain and activate their NCMC Smart Cards before August 1 to continue availing travel benefits without disruption.
Officials said the initiative marks an important milestone in the digital transformation of Maharashtra’s public transport system, with plans to bring more passengers onto the smart mobility platform in the future.
