Madhya Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (MPMRCL) has restarted the process of introducing the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC), also known as 'one nation one card', an interoperable transport card. The card is intended for multiple uses, including public transport ticketing services, in Bhopal and Indore. MPMRCL, starting afresh, has an advantage in implementing this system.

Previously, the city bus operator in Bhopal had faced difficulties in implementing the system. The initiative had been proposed first in October 2023 and then again in February this year, following the announcement by Bhopal City Link (BCLL), a subsidiary of BMC. However, BCLL, after discussions with financial institutions, was unable to secure PPP-mode participation and found transitioning to a new money transaction platform challenging within their current setup.

In October, the MPMRCL proposal was valued at Rs 2.30 billion, while BCLL's proposal estimated around Rs 100 million for a fleet of approximately 250 buses. This week, MPMRCL has once again invited institutions to offer services related to Open Loop NCMC, transaction acquiring, and AFC integration.

The project aims to complete all works, including 57 stations in Indore and Bhopal, within 200 weeks, followed by a 364-week service period that includes defect liability and comprehensive maintenance. Funding for this package is expected from equity contributions of the Union government and the state government.

The NCMC and EMV cards, along with various payment portals, are set to serve as fare media and facilitate processing of transactions for merchants using debit/credit/prepaid card reader hardware or terminals.

The Bhopal Metro Rail Project, designated as a National Priority City by the Union government, has yet to commence passenger operations.