In a major update, senior citizens and female passengers travelling on Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) buses will be required to hold a National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) to access fare concessions starting October 1, 2026. This transition aligns with the state's broader initiative to digitise public transit services.
The mandate reportedly applies to Amrit senior citizens, senior citizens and women passengers covered under MSRTC’s concession schemes.
MSRTC has started the registration and distribution of NCMC cards at bus stations, depots and designated centres across Maharashtra. Beginning from October 1, eligible passengers will be able to receive concessional tickets using an active NCMC card or, while waiting for the physical card, a QR code-enabled registration receipt.
The QR-coded receipt can be scanned by the conductor’s Electronic Ticketing Machine (ETM) for receiving a discounted ticket. However, the receipt will be valid for only 30 days. The users must activate their NCMC card and add money within the given time period.
E-Bix Tech Will Manage Registration
MSRTC has appointed E-Bix Technologies Limited as its authorised agency for NCMC registration and distribution, with facilities set up at MSRTC bus stands, depots, and designated external centres.
Additionally, passengers can top up their NCMC cards via the BHIM app by scanning the QR code on the back of the card.
MSRTC has also provided a substitute for eligible beneficiaries who face problems during enrolment because their fingerprints are not recognised through Aadhaar-based biometric authentication.
Such passengers can complete registration using an OTP sent to the mobile number linked with their Aadhaar card, allowing them to access the NCMC system without relying on fingerprint authentication.
MSRTC tells passengers To Register By October 1
The corporation has instructed eligible senior citizens and women passengers to complete their NCMC registration before the new system becomes operational. The move is aimed to make concession travel more digital, transparent and easier to verify while reducing dependence on manual concession processing.
The already-registered passengers who are awaiting their physical cards may retain their QR code registration receipt. It can be utilised for concessional travel for up to 30 days, subject to the stated requirements.
The NCMC programme has already seen large-scale adoption across Maharashtra, with more than one crore registrations reported by the programme’s technology partners in August 2026.