National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the organisation driving innovation and powering India's digital payment revolution, has partnered with the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC), Chennai's public bus service, to integrate RuPay On-The-Go, a contactless payment solution for transit.
This integration allows commuters in Chennai to seamlessly travel between Chennai Metro to MTC buses and use Chennai Metro parking facilities with a single card. This initiative addresses common commuter issues such as long queues, need for exact change, and complex ticketing processes.
RuPay On-The-Go launched under the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) program, simplifies public transit across multiple cities in India. It offers travelers a seamless, hassle-free, and contactless experience on metros and buses with a single card, marked by the distinctive RuPay contactless symbol.
The card’s stored value ticketing allows users to load funds and use them across various transit modes. Additionally, the card supports offline transactions, making it perfect for use in metro tunnels and on moving buses, even without internet connectivity. This widespread RuPay On-The-Go implementation positions Chennai as a leading city with a multi-modal transit system. It allows commuters to use their existing RuPay contactless debit, credit, or prepaid cards, fostering convenience and efficiency.
Over 3.2 million daily commuters of Chennai MTC1 will benefit from this efficient transit system. The MTC Singara Chennai One City One Card can be used in Chennai Metro Rail (CMRL), likewise the CMRL Singara Chennai One City One Card can be used in MTC bus network. “With the integration of the RuPay On-The-Go card across the MTC bus network, Chennai is taking a significant step towards a smarter, more efficient urban mobility ecosystem.
This unified payment solution allows commuters to use a single, contactless card across multiple modes such as buses, metros, and parking facilities, making everyday travel faster, more convenient, and entirely cashless.” said Kunal Kalawatia, Chief of Products, NPCI. “This partnership marks a transformative milestone for Chennai’s public transit system.
By integrating the RuPay On-The-Go card across MTC buses and Chennai metro, we are offering our passengers a seamless multi-modal travel experience. We look forward to seeing the positive impact this will have on the lives of Chennai’s residents.” said Dr. Alby John Varghese, Managing Director, MTC Chennai.
Users can avail the RuPay On-The-Go card, not just in Chennai, but also across a growing list of transit networks, including metros in cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Ahmedabad, and Kanpur, as well as bus services in cities like Mumbai (B.E.S.T), Guwahati, Haryana, Jammu, Srinagar, Himachal and Aurangabad.
For further information on obtaining a RuPay NCMC card, users can visit participating banks, metro stations, or designated offices to get started on their seamless transit journey. RuPay has been at the forefront of advancing India's payment infrastructure through its state-of-the-art card payment network. RuPay cards also facilitate smooth transactions at merchant outlets and allows users flexibility to make UPI payments by linking the card with UPI-enabled apps through RuPay Credit Cards on UPI.
Source:
Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Chennai) Ltd
About NPCI:
National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) is the central body responsible for overseeing retail payments and settlement systems in India. It is established by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA). The Company is focused on bringing innovations in the retail payment systems by using technology for achieving greater efficiency in operations and widening the reach of payment systems.
NPCI is committed to harnessing the transformative potential of deep tech, creating an ecosystem that fosters collaboration to work on breakthrough technologies. Underlining its commitment to service, NPCI has been incorporated as a “Not for Profit” Company to provide infrastructure to the entire Banking system in India for physical as well as electronic payment and settlement systems.
NPCI has made a profound impact on India's retail payment landscape, focusing on creating robust, efficient, and inclusive payment and settlement solutions. NPCI has been instrumental in introducing a range of products that have revolutionised retail payment systems. These include Unified Payments Interface (UPI), RuPay, National Automated Clearing House (NACH), Immediate Payment Service (IMPS), National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC), Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AePS), e-RUPI and more.
Each of these products has contributed significantly to enhance the efficiency and accessibility of payment systems in India, ultimately propelling financial inclusion. NPCI has played a fundamental role in establishing the foundation for India’s rapidly growing digital payments ecosystem, projecting the country onto the global stage.
NPCI has three wholly owned subsidiaries – NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) and NPCI Bharat BillPay Limited (NBBL) and NPCI BHIM Services Limited (NBSL), established in pursuance of NPCI Board & RBI approval.