Bengaluru Namma Metro Card: How to Get, Recharge and Use It on BMTC Buses (2026)

Bengaluru's Namma Metro has moved to NCMC, and since June 2026 BMTC buses accept NCMC cards too. That means a single card now covers most public transport in the city. This guide covers the RBL Bank Namma Metro NCMC card: what it costs, how to get it, how to recharge it and how to use it on buses.

How to get a Namma Metro card

1. Go to any Namma Metro station counter or a select RBL Bank branch in Bengaluru.
2. Give your mobile number and verify it with an OTP.
3. Provide a self-declaration of your name and PAN (or other ID number).
4. Pay ₹100. That's a ₹50 issuance fee plus ₹50 loaded onto the card.

The card is issued instantly and you can tap in straight away.

Fees and limits

Two wallets on one card

The RBL card has two balances:

• Transit balance: used at metro gates and bus ticket machines.
• Personal balance: usable for shopping and online payments like a prepaid card.

Make sure you load money into the transit balance for travel, or move money between them in RBL's app or portal.

How to recharge

• At metro station counters, by cash or UPI.
• Online through RBL Bank's app or web portal by UPI, net banking, debit or credit card.
• By scanning a QR code provided for top-ups.

As with all NCMC cards, an online top-up may need to be "picked up" by tapping at a station reader or add-value point before the chip shows it.

Using NCMC on BMTC buses

From June 2026, around 11,000 new BMTC ticketing machines accept NCMC cards issued anywhere in India, as well as debit cards, credit cards and UPI. Hand your card to the conductor or tap it on the machine; the fare is deducted and a ticket is issued. An NCMC card from Delhi, Mumbai or any other city works too.

Should visitors to Bengaluru buy one?

If you're in the city for a week or more and will use the metro and buses, the ₹100 card pays for itself in convenience, since ₹50 of it is travel balance. For a short trip of a day or two, QR tickets are simpler. If you already have an NCMC card from another city, just bring it.

Other NCMC options in Bengaluru

• Your bank's RuPay NCMC debit card, if it carries the NCMC mark. See NCMC cards by bank.
• RBL Bank RuPay credit cards include NCMC, with an offline wallet of up to ₹2,000.
• QR tickets on the Namma Metro app or WhatsApp, for occasional trips.

Which option is best?

Metro fares and discounts

Namma Metro fares depend on distance. Card and QR users generally pay the same distance-based fare, and BMRCL has at times offered discounts for smart card users, so check the current fare rules on BMRCL's website or at the station. Keep enough balance for your longest regular trip: gates won't let you exit if the balance can't cover the fare, and you'll need to top up at the counter first.

Common problems and fixes

• Gate doesn't open: the card may not have picked up an online top-up yet, or the transit balance may be empty while the personal balance has money. Ask at the counter to update the card or move money between wallets.
• Charged twice: keep the date, time and station, and raise it with RBL Bank customer care or at the station.
• Card not reading: keep it away from other contactless cards in your wallet when tapping, as two cards can confuse the reader.
• Bus conductor can't read the card: not every bus may have the new machine yet; carry UPI as a backup.

Lost card

Block it through RBL Bank's app or customer care. A replacement costs ₹50. Because the offline balance works like cash, keep only what you need for a couple of weeks of travel.

Using credit cards in Bengaluru

For everyday spending, including groceries on Blinkit, Zepto and BigBasket, see our quick commerce cards guide. For flights from Kempegowda International Airport, check lounge access with our airport lounge finder, and see the Bengaluru metro card page for the latest status.

FAQs

Sources

• RBL Bank: Namma Metro NCMC card (fees and limits)
• BengaluruMetro.in: NCMC integration with BMTC buses