The Delhi Metro has partnered with Airtel Payments Bank to launch co-branded RuPay ‘On-The-Go’ National Common Mobility Cards (NCMC) in its continued attempt to phase out its closed-loop smart cards, earlier known as ‘smart cards’. 

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) introduced NCMCs in 2020, but older smart cards continue to work, although they are no longer available. A closed-loop smart card can be used only with a specific transit provider or authority, unlike an open-loop card like the NCMC, which can be used across multiple modes of transport. 

The DMRC said the cards would enable seamless, interoperable payments across metro systems, buses and other transit networks nationwide. DMRC Managing Director Vikas Kumar said, “The co-branded cards — debit cards and PPI-MTS (Prepaid Payment Instrument for Mass Transit Systems) cards — will allow commuters to pay for metro travel across multiple cities and transit systems using a single open-loop card. This represents a significant upgrade from existing DMRC-issued cards, which are limited to the Delhi Metro network.“ 

The cards will be available at all DMRC stations within the next 10 days, ensuring easy accessibility for commuters. In addition, users will be able to recharge their cards digitally at any time through the DMRC app or the Airtel app, significantly reducing the need to queue at stations for top-ups.