Mumbai’s long-awaited National Common Mobility Card (NCMC), branded as Mumbai 1, is gearing up for a full-fledged launch across multiple public transport systems. The announcement came from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis following a review meeting with Union Railway Minister Ashiwini Vaishnaw.
One Card for All Commutes
Designed to work across metro, monorail, buses, and eventually local trains, the Mumbai 1 card enables commuters to tap and travel across systems. While it’s currently accepted on Metro Lines 1, 2A, and 7, its usage is expected to expand by the monsoon.
Here’s how it will work:
- Metro: Tap at AFC gates
- Bus: Tap on conductors’ handheld machines
- Railway: Use at booking counters to get physical tickets
Metro 3 and Railways Still in Pipeline
While Metro 1, 2A, and 7 support NCMC, the newly opened Metro Line 3 (Aarey-BKC) doesn’t yet. It will accept the card only after the full Aarey–Cuffe Parade corridor opens in July 2025.
The suburban railway network, Mumbai’s busiest transport lifeline, is still outside the NCMC loop. Officials cite the absence of gate-based access and scale of operations as key implementation hurdles.
More Than Just Transit
The Mumbai 1 card goes beyond travel. It can be used for:
- Toll booths
- Parking lots
- Retail payments
- Smart city services
It supports offline payments and stores value for monthly or season passes—making it a potential game-changer for regular commuters.
Adoption on the Rise
Currently, around 35% of Metro 2A and 7 commuters use the Mumbai 1 card, while 10% of Metro 1 users have adopted it. With broader rollout, these numbers are expected to climb.
BEST was the first to implement NCMC. Its GM, SVR Srinivas, said efforts are on to integrate more feeder routes and unify ticketing, moving towards a fully connected public transport experience.
