NEW DELHI. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has teamed up with Airtel Payments Bank to introduce co-branded RuPay On-The-Go cards, a major step forward for integrated urban mobility in India. Launched at the DMRC headquarters by Managing Director Dr. Vikas Kumar and Airtel Payments Bank CEO Anubrata Biswas, these National Common Mobility Cards (NCMC) are designed to function as open-loop payment tools. This means commuters are no longer restricted to the Delhi Metro network; they can now use a single card to pay for travel on metros, buses, and various other transit systems nationwide, streamlining the daily commute for millions.
Aligned with the Government of India’s One Nation, One Card vision, the new offering includes both Debit and Prepaid Payment Instrument (PPI) options. These cards will be rolled out across all Delhi Metro stations within the next ten days, ensuring they are easily accessible to the general public. To further enhance user convenience and eliminate the need for physical queues, the cards support digital recharging through both the DMRC and Airtel mobile applications. While these new cards offer expanded utility, DMRC confirmed that existing metro cards will remain functional, though the focus will shift toward promoting NCMC technology for future commuters.
This partnership highlights a strategic shift toward merging banking services with public infrastructure to create a digital-first commuter experience. Dr. Vikas Kumar emphasized that the initiative is centered on passenger convenience, while Anubrata Biswas noted that the collaboration reflects a shared goal of modernizing urban travel through secure and simplified payment solutions. By embedding financial tools directly into the transit experience, the DMRC and Airtel Payments Bank are helping to build a more connected and efficient transportation landscape across the country.
