Instead of buying separate travel cards in different cities, users can carry one card and tap it to pay for their journeys.

The card is issued by Pine Labs and powered by RuPay. It is priced at ₹50 and does not require KYC, making it simple to obtain and use. The card can be ordered online through platforms including Blinkit, Zepto, Flipkart and Flipkart Minutes. Depending on the location and platform, doorstep delivery can also be available within minutes.

How does the Bharat Yatra Card work?

The card uses the NCMC system to enable contactless payments on participating public transport networks. At a metro station, passengers can simply tap the card at an NCMC-enabled gate to enter and exit, with the applicable fare deducted from the card balance. It can similarly be used on participating buses equipped to accept NCMC payments.

One of its useful features for travellers is that the card is not tied to a single city. However, it can only be used on NCMC-enabled transport systems, so acceptance is dependent on whether the particular metro, bus service or other facility supports the system.

Where can you use it?

The Bharat Yatra Card can currently be used across a range of metro and bus networks, including:

Metro

• Delhi-NCR
• Mumbai
• Bengaluru
• Chennai
• Ahmedabad
• Kanpur

Bus

• Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and Cluster buses
• BEST buses in Mumbai
• Chennai
• Guwahati
• Haryana
• Jammu
• Srinagar
• Himachal Pradesh
• Aurangabad

The card can also be used at NCMC-enabled parking locations. Since it is a RuPay card, it can additionally be used at participating RuPay-enabled merchant locations for regular retail payments, subject to the applicable acceptance conditions.

How to get and activate the card

The Bharat Yatra Card can be purchased online without completing a traditional KYC process. Once you receive the physical card, you can use the Bharat Yatra app to register and manage it.

The basic process is:

• Download the Bharat Yatra app.
• Register using your mobile number and OTP.
• Scan the QR code on the card or enter the card details.
• Add money to the card using UPI or other supported recharge options.
• Use the card by tapping it at NCMC-enabled metro gates or bus payment machines.

The card can also be recharged through the app without having to visit a physical counter. Balance can be updated on the card using supported NFC-enabled Android phones or at designated transit facilities.

How much money can you load?

The Bharat Yatra Card is a prepaid card, and the maximum NCMC balance that can be loaded on it is ₹2,000. The card has a validity of up to five years, according to its terms. It is meant for transit payments and does not support cash withdrawals.

The key point for travellers is that Bharat Yatra is not a universal metro or bus pass. Its acceptance depends on the transport operator being NCMC-enabled. As more transport networks adopt the NCMC system, the usefulness of a single card across Indian cities is expected to increase.