If you regularly travel on Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) buses using a government travel concession, there is an important change you need to know.
From September 1, 2026, women and eligible senior citizens will need a National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) to get concession tickets on MSRTC buses.
The earlier manual process will now be replaced by the digital card system.
Who Needs the NCMC Card?
The new rule currently applies to:
Women passengers
Senior citizens aged 65 to 75 years
Passengers in these categories who want to use eligible government travel concessions must register for the NCMC and get their card activated.
MSRTC has also indicated that the NCMC requirement will later be extended to other categories of passengers who receive travel concessions.
Senior Citizens Above 75 Get More Time
There is some relief for senior citizens aged above 75 years, who are classified as Amrit Senior Citizens.
The NCMC requirement has not been made immediately mandatory for this group.
MSRTC has given them additional time because some beneficiaries have faced difficulties during registration, particularly with fingerprint authentication.
Their registration and card distribution process will continue separately.
Getting the Card Is Not Enough
There is another important point that passengers should not miss.
Simply receiving an NCMC card will not be enough to use the concession facility.
Passengers will also need to make sure their card is activated and topped up with the required balance before travelling.
MSRTC has issued instructions to its depots regarding the new system.
Eligible passengers who have not yet completed registration should visit their nearest MSRTC depot, complete the process and collect their card.
More Than 62 Lakh Passengers Already Registered
The NCMC rollout has already reached millions of passengers in Maharashtra.
As of June 30, more than 62.86 lakh passengers had registered for NCMC cards, while over 35.52 lakh cards had been activated.
The large-scale rollout is part of Maharashtra’s move towards digital and cashless ticketing for concession travel.
Why Is MSRTC Moving to NCMC?
The new system is designed to make concession travel more transparent and reduce dependence on manual verification.
With a digital card, MSRTC can more easily identify eligible passengers, record concession journeys and manage related transactions.
For passengers, however, the transition means completing registration and keeping the card active and sufficiently topped up.
What Happens If You Don’t Have the Card?
From September 1, women and senior citizens aged 65 to 75 covered by the new rule will not receive concession tickets through the old manual process.
Their concession will instead be linked to the NCMC system.
This makes the card particularly important for frequent MSRTC passengers who depend on travel concessions to reduce their transportation costs.
What Should Eligible Passengers Do Now?
If you are a woman or a senior citizen aged 65 to 75 and regularly use MSRTC concession tickets, complete your NCMC registration as soon as possible.
After receiving the card, make sure it is activated and has the required balance before boarding the bus.
Senior citizens above 75 years can wait for further instructions regarding the separate rollout for their category.
The key change is effective now: for women and senior citizens aged 65 to 75, the NCMC is required to access eligible MSRTC travel concessions from September 1, 2026.
