Common Mobility awaits green signal

Trials done, waiting for neta to inaugurate

Nischith N. | NT

Bengaluru: Bengaluru metro commuters’ wait for a common mobility card, incorporating the BMTC travel and many other functions, got longer because the launch date has not been finalised by the authorities.

The National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) system will allow commuters to use both Namma Metro trains and BMTC buses.

Though both the BMRCL and BMTC have prepared the groundwork to introduce the smart card, the rollout has been held up. “The plan was to launch it in December, but it got postponed because of the MLC elections followed by the winter session. The card is ready, but we are waiting for confirmation from the chief minister’s office. Once the CMO provides a date, the chief minister will launch the common mobility system,” a senior BMRCL official said.

Common mobility cards are open loop and can be used to purchase metro and bus tickets, pay for parking and toll, and for retail shopping. The report says that all metro stations built under phase I and II of Namma Metro have automatic fare collection (AFC) boxes that allow transactions with the common mobility cards. BMRCL had begun trial runs last year, but it got affected due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Now the corporation is awaiting government approval, and this long wait has upset commuters.

“BMRCL has conducted trial runs and floated tenders to select a financial institution to issue the smart cards. But waiting to launch means politicians and their publicity gimmicks are more important than the public’s need. It should be done as soon as possible, because commuters in Bengaluru are already burdened with purchasing and carrying multiple mobility cards like monthly pass for BMTC, Namma Metro Travel Card and monthly passes for suburban trains. With the Common Mobility Card, travel difficulties will reduce for such commuters, both in terms of payment, changing modes of transport or ease of access,” said Purushotham P, advocate and urban activist.

Meanwhile, BMTC is in a process to procure electronic ticketing machines and conduct tests to ensure that the software is compatible. It will require 10,000 such machines for the rollout.

BMRCL managing director Anjum Parwez confirmed to News Trail that everything is ready, but they are waiting for an inaugural date. “All metro stations have automatic fare collection (AFC) boxes that allow transactions with the common mobility cards. Waiting for the confirmation from the government to launch,” he said.