NCMC smart cards not mandatory yet;

Lokmat News Network

Chaitali Joshi

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

Even as the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) moves ahead with the rollout of ‘RuPay On-The-Go, enabled with National Common Mobility Cards (NCMC)’ for concessional passengers, officials have clarified that the system will not be made compulsory immediately as the card issuance process is still underway.

Registration underway, cards yet to arrive

MSRTC had earlier announced that the personalised NCMC smart card would gradually replace the existing handwritten concessional pass system for passengers availing fare discounts. These include categories such as women, senior citizens, students, persons with disabilities, accredited journalists and freedom fighters.

However, authorities said the transition will take time as the cards have not yet been issued and only the registration process is currently in progress. Since the end of February, around 25,000 passengers have completed registration for the card.

Passengers will be able to use the card only after the printed cards are received and distributed.

More registration centres soon

At present, registration facilities are available through in-house and authorised agents at major bus stations, including CBS, Cidco and tehsil bus stations, leading to a rush at these locations.

To ease the situation, MSRTC plans to appoint private agents in different parts of the city and district soon, allowing passengers to register closer to their homes.

No need to rush

Officials said the system cannot be implemented overnight as a large portion of passengers travel on concessional fares.

“Nearly 60 per cent of our passengers avail concessional travel. At the corporation level we have around 30 to 35 lakh concessional passengers, and the system will not be made compulsory until the cards reach the majority of them. There is no need for passengers to panic or rush,” said divisional controller, Pramod Nehul.

Officials also said concessional passengers should obtain the card eventually, but the existing concession system will continue until the majority receive the NCMC cards.

NCMC smart card update

----Around 25,000 registrations completed so far

----Cards yet to be issued; registration in process

----Concessional travel continues under existing system

----More registration agents to be appointed across the city and district

----System to become mandatory only after majority receive cards

(AI IMAGE)