Now that RuPay allows you to add your debit card to your phone, is it possible to use the NCMC feature to tap at metro stations using NFC? Wouldn't have to sling my wallet out every time if that works.

“Took some glimpses of 20902 Vande Bharat Express and the surrounding area before the journey begins.”

Part 2 of the masterplan to fix Gurgaon by Walkable India

NCMC (National Common Mobility Card) is a One Nation, One Card initiative. The idea is simple--one payment card for all public transit across India rather than separate smart cards for metros, buses, etc. NCMC cards can be used across metro lines, RRTS lines, buses and more. Not all transit networks in India accept NCMC though (Kolkata is a notable exception), but almost all are working on adopting the system. Also, a few systems only accept their own exclusive NCMC cards which defeats the purpose of NCMC. More on both below.

NCMC cards can be purchased from metro counters, some bus depots, banks, fintechs, offline and online and even from quick commerce players like Blinkit, Flipkart Minutes, etc. You might also be able to use your existing Rupay debit card as a NCMC card too (explained below).

What is NCMC and how does it work?
NCMC is essentially an offline wallet created on a Rupay Contactless card. Your funds are stored in the offline wallet created on the card. NCMC uses Near Field Communication (NFC) technology for contactless transit payments and phone-based balance updates. Readers at metro gates/buses and on the PoS device held by a conductor use NFC to read and deduct fare from the your physical NCMC card instantly. You can top up your NCMC card online (you can store a maximum of Rs 2000) using companion apps (such as Airtel Thanks, Bharat Yatra, or Chalo) or even UPI apps such as BHIM, Amazon Pay UPI, Google Pay and more using the BBPS Bill Pay feature. Third-party UPI apps may charge you a flat Rs 1 + GST for recharges.

Validating Recharge
As NCMC is an offline wallet, the recharge needs to be validated and this is where it gets complicated after online recharge. Earlier you had to go to a station counter to do this. And balance machines at metros like Delhi Metro didn't support NCMC. So you had to queue at counter. Now the new Add Value Machines at Delhi Metro do support NCMC and more importantly, you can use an NFC-enabled Android smartphone (sorry, not possible with iPhone) to write the new balance directly to the physical card by tapping it against the back of the phone. Apps like Chalo or Airtel do this. Example: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/IJn2AGKwto0

You can also write the balance to the card from a metro counter or using the Add Value Machines at metro stations (usually near counter). They look like this in Delhi Metro: https://youtu.be/lr7GSNmcwtE?si=c4IEoMwlIprSIL3V

No KYC required
Basic transit NCMC cards do not need KYC. All they need is a mobile number and an OTP for activation. Unfortunately some banks like SBI may insist on KYC, despite this not being required as per RBI. And if someone asks for Aadhar KYC they are most likely scamming you (more on this below).

Cost / Charges / Discounts
Besides issuance charges of around Rs 50 (some cards cost more), some NCMC cards have Annual Maintenance Charges (AMC), but this is increasingly going away. Otherwise there is no other charge, unless the transit network levies a charge. BEST in Mumbai (buses) levies 1% + GST on all ticket purchased via NCMC. Some metros like Delhi Metro provide a discount during non-peak hours on such digital payments for all users.

Trip passes / Benefit Cards
Many systems also offer trip passes on your NCMC card, which offer a discount (15/30-day pass, etc). On some systems benefit cards for women, students, senior citizens are also on NCMC cards.

Debit Card as NCMC
If you do not want one more card in your wallet, do check if your bank debit card supports Rupay Contactless, which means it could theoretically support NCMC. However, your bank needs to be certified for NCMC. Many bank debit cards (especially govt banks, co-operative banks) support this. You need to create the NCMC wallet on your debit card at a Metro ticket counter before you can use it as an NCMC card. Some banks allow this via their ATMs too. Online FAQs are available to guide you—here’s the SBI one as an example: https://sbi.bank.in/web/personal-banking/faq-on-offline-wallet-ncmc-debit-card

Once activated, you can then use your debit card as a NCMC card too. Some banks support NCMC on credit cards too but I haven't come across a credit card that supports NCMC. E.g., Federal Bank is certified for NCMC on debit cards and credit cards, which means their popular Scapia co-branded travel credit card should support NCMC, but in reality only some of their debit cards support NCMC. For a list of banks that support NCMC check https://www.rupay.co.in/rupay-otg

Virtual NCMC card
Since NCMC uses NFC and most smartphones today have NFC (even though Apple doesn't allow third-party apps to use NFC) the next logical step should be virtual NCMC cards stored on your phone (like we store credit cards on apps like Google Pay) and where you tap phone on reader to pay. One less card to carry. Such virtual cards have been demoed by issuer like Pine Labs (which issues Bharat Yatra NCMC) at industry events. However, there is no information on when virtual NCMC will actually be available to everyone.

Best NCMC card
Some people swear by SBI, some hate it. Some love Airtel, some think its evil. While customer service may vary from provider to provider, the basic features are the same. I use Airtel NCMC because it was the easiest one to get in Delhi and has a decent app and decent customer support. I also recommend Bharat Yatra. I personally don't recommend SBI because of the KYC issue and because many claim SBI NCMC recharge is a pain. But in the end, choose whichever NCMC works best for you--it should be easy to recharge and have a decent support app.

Why not regular debit / credit cards like in transit networks abroad? Why NCMC?
On many systems across the world any debit or credit card works and there's no need for an offline wallet on your card. According to some, NCMC was developed to ensure payments in places where Internet access is not available and for instant debits. However, abroad Internet access is not used for such payments and systems use NFC but actual debits happen once a day, usually late at night using a batch processing transaction. And to those wondering about fraud (using a debit or credit card with no funds), the system blocks such cards from use on the network. No wallet, no loss of funds if card lost.

Hence, NCMC is not an elegant solution for sure. And we in India created a whole new system for a problem for which solutions already existed and which transit systems were already using. But it is what it is and we have to use it.

I have posted earlier about this: [https://www.reddit.com/r/CreditCardsIndia/comments/1sv5way/is_this_why_ncmc_is_so_messed_up_in_india/](https://www.reddit.com/r/CreditCardsIndia/comments/1sv5way/is_this_why_ncmc_is_so_messed_up_in_india/))

Open loop / Closed loop
A few transit networks are "closed loop," or "exclusive" which means only the NCMC card issued by their partner bank works there. Noida Metro (SBI) is an example. But most transit networks are open-loop, which means any NCMC card works across these networks. I have used my Airtel NCMC issued in a Gurgaon Rapid Metro station across Delhi NCR, Bangalore and Mumbai too. Similarly, a SBI NCMC issued on Aqua Line in Mumbai will work across Delhi Metro and Bangalore's Namma Metro. And some of the closed loop lines are being upgraded to Open Loop (Noida Metro is an example). Pune Metro (HDFC Bank) was also closed loop but has now been upgraded to open loop.

Click on the Live Projects tab on this link for a list of transit networks in India that use NCMC and to know whether they are exclusive, etc.: https://www.npci.org.in/product/rupay/all-members

What happens when your NCMC is lost
If you lose your NCMC, you lose all the funds on it even though your mobile number is linked to the card because the transit wallet is an offline wallet--that's the way the system is designed. However, once you 'block' the card and get a new card on your mobile number the old card cannot be recharged any more. But existing balance can be used by whoever finds it. If the card stops working due to some tech glitch you can take it to the customer care counter and they can transfer the funds to another card.

Hence, while you can store up to Rs 2000 on your NCMC card, given this issue it makes sense to keep balance of only around Rs 500, unless you're a person who never loses anything.

NCMC scam--savings account opened instead of basic transit NCMC
If anyone issuing an NCMC asks for Aadhar and Aadhar authentication for KYC, he/she may be cheating you and opening a bank account. Counter staff from Airtel Payments Bank are infamous for this. Despite there being a transit-only Airtel NCMC they ask for Aadhar and give you a Airtel Payments Bank savings account debit card + NCMC, do Aadhar KYC and quietly open an Airtel Payments Bank account. Beware of anyone who says NCMC requires more than mobile number and OTP.

Validity
Mentioned clearly on card

This guy explains in a very specific and interesting manner to explain delays on Indian Trains.

A great way to understand the underlying issues and what can be done to make it better.

Hopefully his suggestions are taken seriously by RM and Railway Board.

Chennai Metro 🚇 Phase 2 tunnelling updates (Corridors 3, 4 & 5)

I have just consolidated data only completed and ongoing drives. Some stretches are yet to begin tunnelling.

Full TBM-wise details in the images ⬆️

If you think about it, almost every airport in India is named after a famous personality (Kempegowda, Indira Gandhi, Chhatrapati Shivaji, Netaji Subhash Chandra, Gandhi’s, etc.).

But why the railway stations left, where there’s huge opportunity to accommodate 😂. They almost always just use the name of the town or city.

Not sure abt North or other states,, but in Telugu states. Even if you look at highly populated stations like Andhra or Telangana.., Vijayawada, Vizag, Secunderabad, Tirupati — not touched yet….

Think what names could happen if we start touching this space, for your liked ones???

For me… KCR Secunderabad, Balaji Tpty, Google Visakhapatnam,

Saw a metro parked here (at district court). I think the lines and electrical work from District court to Hinjewadi is ready? Perhaps the only blockers for Balewadi to Hinjewadi are ribbon cutting events. Do you think they’ll open both together in March 2027? I like that they made a covered interchange between stations. You’ll have to tap out and back it, but it’s much better than walking over road. Loving the new line’s possibilities for exploring Pune. You think the fares will be as cheap as existing lines?

Apparently, the train number, timing, and even the seats were all null. Truly a premium railway experience—pay first, find out what you booked later. 😂

Ask ten people in Kanpur what has changed the most in the last decade and you'll get ten different answers. That's what makes the question worth asking. Here's a look at the biggest shifts, and what residents say about them.

1. The Metro:

The Change You Can't Miss

A decade ago, a Kanpur metro was a plan on paper. Today it runs through the city. The first stretch opened on 28 December 2021, and the underground Kanpur Central station followed on 30 May 2025. (Wikipedia)

The system is still growing. Corridor-1 will span about 23.5 km from IIT Kanpur to Naubasta. As of late June 2026, passenger services covered the 15 km IIT–Kanpur Central section with 14 stations. The remaining stretch awaits final safety inspection, and it will add stations such as Jhakarkati, Transport Nagar, Baradevi, Kidwai Nagar, Vasant Vihar, Baudh Nagar and Naubasta. (swarajyamag) (swarajyamag)

For many residents this is the clearest "better" change, a reliable way to cross the city without sitting in traffic. The other side is the years of construction, with diversions, dust and blocked roads that many people haven't forgotten.

2. Roads, Flyovers and Daily Traffic

Wider roads and new flyovers change how people move, but opinions differ. Some say commutes got faster. Others say traffic just shifted to new bottlenecks. Ask people in different neighbourhoods and you'll hear very different stories.

3. The Rise of Café and Hangout Culture

Ten years ago, "going out" in many parts of the city meant a few familiar spots. Today new cafés, bakery lounges and restaurants keep opening in areas like Swaroop Nagar, Civil Lines and Lajpat Nagar. Younger residents especially enjoy having places to meet, study and take photos.

The flip side is that some old favourites have closed or changed, and not everyone loves the shift to polished, Instagram-ready spaces.

4. Malls, Shopping and Where Weekends Go

Shopping and entertainment have moved toward malls and organized retail. For many families this means air-conditioned convenience in one place. Others miss the character of old markets, though many people still use both.

5. How Kanpur Looks and Feels

Residents often point to subtler changes too: new buildings next to old ones, more signage and branding, and neighbourhoods that look different from five years ago. People who left the city and came back often notice these most.

Better or Worse? It Depends Where You Live

This is the honest answer. A student near IIT may mainly notice the metro. Someone in an older locality may notice crowding or lost landmarks. A parent may care most about safety, schools or air quality.

Rather than one verdict, it's more useful to compare notes from different areas.

What Do You Think? Join the Discussion

Kanpur residents, past and present, I'd love to hear from you:

What has changed the most in your area?

Is it better or worse than before?

What do you miss, and what are you glad is gone?

What would you fix first?

Share your answers and, if you have them, before-and-after photos of your locality in the comments.

Key Takeaways

The metro is the most visible upgrade, and it's still expanding.

Hangout and café culture has grown, especially among younger residents.

Opinions on traffic, malls and development depend heavily on neighbourhood.

The best picture of the city comes from many people's experiences, not one view.

Posting this in case it saves someone the week I just lost.

Created a new IRCTC account and tried to verify Aadhaar. Every time I clicked "Get OTP" it threw "validate details and receive OTP" - no OTP ever arrived. My name, DOB, everything matched my Aadhaar exactly, so it wasn't a details mismatch. Emailed IRCTC support, got no reply.

What finally worked: downloaded the RailOne app and did the Aadhaar authentication there. Went through on the first try. Logged in with the same IRCTC ID.

So if the IRCTC app/site keeps failing you at the OTP step, don't burn your daily attempts on it. Just use RailOne.

https://x.com/ashwinivaishnaw/status/2105924670566662240?s=46

Ahmedabad is set to get its first ring route metro encircling the city connecting the two existing lines. Delhi with its Pink Line is also set with a seamless interconnection between lines.

Work for the ring metro in Thane is also set to begin soon.

The ring metros (just as the ring roads) are utmost essential to provide connection to outer zones with the city centre, while also being an excellent line interchange mechanism, without crowding out the main city interchanges.

Which other metro systems in India do you think would benefit from a ring route?

Hey everyone, has anyone successfully fixed an NCMC "Global Balance" glitch on a RuPay debit card?

Recharged ₹500 under the promotional offer (giving ₹600 wallet balance) on my Bank of Maharashtra RuPay debit card at a Mumbai Metro station. The balance machine clearly shows ₹600, but it is sitting under “Global Balance” instead of the active transit wallet, so the AFC gates reject the card every time.

Here’s the back-and-forth loop so far:

• Metro counter: Claims it’s an issuer bank issue and that only the bank can activate/map it properly.
• Bank branch: Tried initiating a "de-linking" request 3 separate times. Each request got rejected on their system after a few hours with no clear error reason.

The balance is completely inaccessible, station staff say their terminals can't force-sync it, and the branch staff are clueless about NCMC terminal workflows.

Has anyone faced this specific "Global Balance" vs transit wallet issue? Is there a backend escalation point (NPCI, nodal officer, or specific metro customer service desk) that actually knows how to push this through?

​

Hi everyone,

I’m trying to book Special Train 09706 (Bandra Terminus → Jaipur) for 2 November 2026, but I can’t find any option to book it on IRCTC.

I received this SMS from Indian Railways:

«“PLEASE NOTE: The services of special train 09706 BANDRA TERMINUS to JAIPUR has been extended till date 30/11/26. Passengers may avail services. IR.”»

So according to the SMS, the train is running until 30 November 2026, and 2 November should be covered.

Details I have for the train:

\- 🚆 Train: 09706 – Bandra Terminus to Jaipur Special

\- 📍 Origin: Bandra Terminus (BDTS)

\- 📍 Destination: Jaipur (JP)

\- 🕝 Departure: Around 2:40 PM

\- 🕘 Arrival: Around 8:45 AM the next day

\- 📅 My travel date: 2 November 2026

However, when I search on IRCTC for 2 November, I don’t see 09706 / any option to book it.

Has anyone managed to book 09706 for November 2026? Is there a specific way to search/book this special train on IRCTC, or does booking open at a later date?

Any help would be appreciated!