(NAVI MUMBAI) NMMT launch HDFC RuPay contactless Smart Prepaid card

(NAVI MUMBAI) NMMT launch HDFC RuPay contactless Smart Prepaid card:

NMMT unveils ‘Navi Card’ for bus tickets, other payments

The Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport (NMMT) has launched the ‘Navi Card’, which will allow commuters to buy paperless bus tickets as well as use it for other payment purposes.

National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has joined hands with Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport (NMMT) and HDFC Bank to launch Navi Cards. The card will enable NaviMumbaikars and those travelling to the city to make use of the prepaid card to pay NMMT bus fares. Currently, the acceptance will be enabled only in selected routes. HDFC Bank is the first bank to issue cards to NMMT commuters. Customers can get these contactless cards over the counters of NMMT bus depot. Navi cards can be seamlessly used at retail outlets having POS terminals, E-commerceand ATMs.

Navi Cards are designed in line with the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) guidelinesto offer secure, user friendly and cost effective solution to facilitate low value payments and build cashless transaction environment.

NMMT has teamed up with the app Ridlr and HDFC Bank for the project, which is expected to roll out by the end of the month.

“We are one of the first few agencies in India to have implemented this. NMMT and Ridlr together introduced one of the first mobile ticketing solutions for buses in India. Carrying the partnership further, we have worked together to to make ‘Navi Card’ a reality,” said Shirish Aradwad, General Manager, NMMT.

The card follows the norms set by the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) and has a stored value component to it. “The card will show two balances — a transport balance and their bank balance. Amounts for bus rides will be deducted only through the transport balance,” a senior official said.

NMMT will be choosing its air conditioned routes for the initial rollout. Senior officials said nearly 1,000 machines had to be changed for the project, which would be done gradually.

The card facilitate cashless transactions and paperless ticketing along with reducing the hassle of having multiple cards.

Brijraj Vaghani, CEO of Ridlr, said, “We are thrilled to partner with NMMT for the launch of the Navi Card, after introducing mobile ticketing solutions for them recently. The smart card has been designed keeping the convenience of Mumbaikars in mind, allowing them to use it beyond their mobility needs as well.”

Interestingly, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority is also planning to execute the Integrated Ticketing System (ITS) along similar lines, for which tenders have been floated. The ITS has been planned for all transport organisations in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, including the NMMT.

NMMT officials said that they will integrate their system with that of MMRDA once it is ready.