New Delhi: NPCI Bharat BillPay (NBBL), a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), has integrated Airtel Payments Bank’s RuPay On-The-Go cards enabled with the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) into its Bharat Connect platform. The move expands digital recharge options for public transport users across India.
Through this partnership, users of Airtel Payments Bank’s NCMC-enabled RuPay cards can now recharge their cards using any Bharat Connect-enabled mobile application. By selecting the ‘NCMC Recharge’ option and entering their mobile number along with the last four digits of their card, users can check their current balance and recharge amounts. The system allows top-ups of up to Rs 2,000 per transaction.
Unlike traditional methods, this approach eliminates the need for physical recharge counters and supports a cashless, digital-first transit experience. It also improves user convenience by using mobile numbers for identification, reducing reliance on sensitive card data and easing regulatory compliance.
Expanded Usage Across Transit Systems
The NCMC program aims to unify digital payments for public transit across cities by enabling one card for use across multiple services.
With this integration, Airtel Payments Bank’s NCMC-enabled cards can be used for travel on Mumbai Metro One, Delhi Metro, Gujarat Metro and the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) operated by NCRTC, as well as state-run bus services. Once a recharge is complete, users must update their card balance by tapping it on a designated terminal.
