Bengaluru has among 5.9 lakh Namma Metro passengers, but only 100 use National Common Mobility Card to travel

It has been 15 days since Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited started issuing the National Common Mobility Card, but the response remains lukewarm so far 

It has been 15 days since Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) started issuing the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC), but the response remains lukewarm so far. 

Since March 30, a total of 1,434 persons purchased the card that is on an average 119 cards per day. Among the cardholders, nearly 100 passengers use the card to travel every day.

It is said that a majority of the metro passengers have been using Namma Metro smart cards and they are likely to shift to the NCMC only after the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) also starts accepting it. “Holding one more card to travel just in Namma Metro does not make much difference,” said a source.

After the commercial operations between K.R. Pura and Whitefield, the average ridership of Namma Metro touched 5.9 lakh during the weekdays and crossed over 6 lakh during the weekend.

Among the passengers, 60% of them use the Namma Metro smart cards to commute, 39.5% use the tokens purchased at the counters, and the remainder use group tickets and others. 

Sources said close to 21,000 passengers use the QR-based ticket system to travel in Namma Metro.

“Since commissioning of the Namma Metro services, the BMRCL has been issuing smart cards (closed loop card) for its passengers. In Bengaluru, these cards are being used by lakhs of passengers. Last year, the BMRCL had also launched a QR-based ticket system for the benefits of the passengers. These initiatives were well received by the passengers. Those who are holding Namma Metro smart cards may not immediately shift to the NCMC as it cannot be used in other modes of transport in the city limits. Once the BMTC puts in place the required infrastructure to accept the NCMC, there will be huge demand for it.”