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Lucknow Metro will begin issuing and accepting the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) from June 15 under UPMRC’s integrated ticketing initiative aimed at enabling seamless travel across transport systems. The rollout comes amid commuter complaints over disruptions in smart card services and shortages of metro cards at several stations. UPMRC said the NCMC-based system will support interoperable payments and reduce dependence on closed-loop metro cards while improving convenience for passengers using public transport networks.
The Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC) is set to introduce the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) across the Lucknow Metro network from June 15, marking a shift towards interoperable public transport payments under the Centre’s ‘One Nation, One Card’ initiative. The rollout is expected to allow commuters to use a single card across multiple transport systems and payment platforms compatible with the NCMC framework.
The launch comes at a time when Lucknow Metro passengers have reported difficulties linked to disruptions in smart card services and shortages of metro cards at several stations. Commuters recently faced inconvenience after technical issues affected smart card operations, resulting in longer queues and increased reliance on single-journey tickets during peak travel periods.
According to UPMRC, the NCMC system will support contactless payments and allow passengers to use RuPay-enabled mobility cards for metro travel. The card is designed to function across multiple public transport modes, including metro networks, buses, parking facilities and other transit-related services that are integrated with the national platform.
Officials stated that the introduction of NCMC is intended to reduce dependence on operator-specific smart cards and improve convenience for regular commuters. The system is based on an open-loop payment architecture that enables interoperability between participating transport operators and banking networks. UPMRC has already implemented NCMC-enabled systems in other metro networks under its management, including Agra Metro and Kanpur Metro.
The National Common Mobility Card was launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and the National Payments Corporation of India to create a unified payment mechanism for public transport systems across the country. The card supports offline contactless transactions and can also be used for retail payments, toll charges and other approved services through RuPay-enabled platforms.
UPMRC officials indicated that the NCMC rollout forms part of wider efforts to modernise fare collection systems and improve commuter experience through digital ticketing solutions. The corporation has also expanded QR-based ticketing and integrated payment mechanisms across its metro operations in recent years.
Transport planners have increasingly advocated interoperable mobility systems as urban transit networks expand across Indian cities. Integrated ticketing platforms are expected to simplify passenger movement between different transport modes while reducing transaction times and operational dependence on separate fare media.
The June 15 rollout is expected to gradually replace dependence on conventional metro smart cards while addressing recurring concerns related to card availability and fare collection efficiency across the Lucknow Metro network.
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