The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) has relaxed its rule making the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) mandatory for women travelling at concessional fares. From November 7 until December 31, women passengers can continue to avail the concession without the card.
Why the rule was relaxed
The NCMC became compulsory from October 1 for women and senior citizens using concessional fares on ST buses. But passengers — particularly in rural areas, where awareness and access to registration are limited — reported trouble registering, activating and using the cards.
MSRTC has registered and distributed around 1.10 crore NCMC cards so far, but a large number of eligible women have not completed the process.
Revenue drop
The corporation's average daily earnings fell from ₹33 crore in September to ₹28 crore in October, a drop of about ₹5 crore a day, according to the Free Press Journal. MSRTC has not officially linked the decline to the card requirement, but passenger difficulties with the new rule have come under scrutiny.
Special camps in villages
To clear the backlog, MSRTC will hold registration and card-distribution camps at the gram panchayat level with the help of local representatives, passenger associations and panchayat officials.
What it means for passengers: Women who do not yet have an NCMC card can keep travelling at concessional fares until December 31, but should register at a depot or camp before the relaxation ends.
