The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has launched the much-awaited Smart Card to the bus commuters in the city. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah launched the Smart Card and also inaugurated hi-tech buses and renovated foot-over bridge at Kempegowda Bus Station on June 17th.
BMTC’s Smart Card has been launched in order to facilitate cashless transaction in purchasing ticket and passes. It intends to implement Smart Card based fare collection system. For this it has planned to implement a new method called Open Loop Smart Card based fare collection system in its services. This type of Smart Card is the first of its kind in the country’s city transport organisations, says a press release from the BMTC.
The purpose of Smart Card-based fare collection is to support interoperable multi modal transit ecosystem. These are EMV (Europay, Mastercard and Visa) enabled cards and can be used as E-Purse. Further these Cards can be used as pass for commuting in buses and supports common mobility card system.
Once fully operational, travelers will experience increased convenience, as it will allow them to use the same card for purchasing BMTC bus tickets/passes and for all other normal day to day needs (retail transactions).
The BMTC has developed these RuPay contactless enabled Smart Card based fare collection system with its partner Axis Bank in association with National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
Some of the advantages of Smart Card are: no cash transaction and change issue, improve efficiency and decrease operational costs, provide real time information on revenue, number of passes and travel information of pass holders, integrate, automate and secure ticketing, automate data compilation and report generation to build a reliable MIS, increase convenience and safety to commuters and crew etc.
The roll out
The card roll out is being done in phases starting with the student/college passes, E-Purse, and monthly passes. Smart cards will be issued from BMTC counters and select Bangalore One counters. Students who opt for manual paper passes now will have to be replace it with smartcards as per below timelines. The detailed timeline and the roll out plan is as per below:
- For school and PUC students – Jun 17
- College students – Jul 1
- Replacement of paper passes issued to students – Aug 1 to Sep 30
- Monthly passes – Nov 1 (for all commuters)
E-purse – which can be used to pay for your BMTC tickets instead of cash
- Pilot – Route 335 E – June 23 (100 commuters)
- Launch Route 335 E – July 15 (all commuters)
- Launch on Vayu Vajra buses – August 1 (all commuters)
- Launch on Vajra buses – August 15 (all commuters)
- All buses – October 1 (all commuters)
Issuance counters at BMTC and Bangalore One centres
Students and Customers will be able to “apply online” (through filling E-form) for the Smart Cards on Axis Bank/BMTC Website and then come to any of the below counters and get the card printed.
Customers can use the following links for pre-filling their E-forms:
https://transit.axisbank.co.in
BMTC Stations:
- Kempegowda Bus Station
- Shivaji Nagar
- Shanthi Nagar
- Domlur
- Banashankari
- Koramangala
- Yeswantpur
- Kengeri
- Jayanagar
- Vijayanagar
- ITPL
Bangalore One Centres
- JP Nagar Main
- Nagarbavi Main
- Rajaji Nagar Main
- RT Nagar Main
- Indira Nagar Main
- Kodigehalli
- Arakere
- Sanjay Nagar Main
- Jeevanahalli
- K R Puram Mini
- Kavalabyrasandra
- Malleswaram
- Basaveshwara Nagar
The counters will be live from June 17.
Top up recharge / balance enquiry channels
Top up (recharge)/ balance enquiry of the E-Purse would be available at the following points:
- 46 counters by June 17th – (These 46 counters include the BMTC and Bangalore One Centers at locations mentioned in the above table).
- 110 counters by June 30th. (This includes 72 counters deployed by June 30th as mentioned in above table and additional 38 counters at various locations.)
- Online top-up at www.axisbank.com/bmtc under the manage my cards section from June 17th.
Fees and charges levied to the customer
| Services | Annual fee (Rs) (Axis) | Issuance fee (Axis) | Processing fee (Rs) BMTC | Transaction fee | Top-up fee |
| Student pass | 25 | Nil | 130 per year | 0.69% of the Pass Value
|
For Top-up through online portal, Top-up fee of Rs 5 is applicable |
| College student pass | 25 | Nil | 130 per year | 0.69% of the Pass Value | For Top-up through online portal, Top-up fee of Rs 5 is applicable |
| Monthly passes | 25 | Nil | 100 for 3 years | 0.69% of the Pass Value | For Top-up through online portal, Top-up fee of Rs 5 is applicable |
| e-purse/Stored Value Card | 25 | Nil | Nil | 0.69% of the Pass Value | For Top-up through online portal, Top-up fee of Rs 5 is applicable |
Customers visiting Bangalore One centers for Smart Card issuance will be charged as per the below table in addition to the above mentioned charges.
| Services | Bangalore One Service charges (Rs) |
| Student Pass | 20 |
| College student pass | 20 |
| Monthly pass | 20 |
| e-Purse/Stored Value Card | 20 |
Commuters visiting Bangalore One centers only for reloading the card(top-up) will be charged only Rs 5.
Good and informative article. Thanks to BMTC for the launch of the commuter-smart card. It is a great step to go cashless without any inconvenience.
What a con job! why ‘processing’ fees? what big benefit to us? Remove all the conductors and the savings will pay for automation in no time; not to mention that pilferage and misappropriation will come down drastically. Also, you will see that this will not succeed – why? Simple! we have many dishonest people amongst us – this is a ‘free’ ride for all such people – I am sure there is an override for ’emergencies’ – this will be routinely misused by the staff to allow our flag-hoisting pakistanis to ride for free. Way to go, reddy garu!
Pls tell about the documents that we have to submit during replacement of pass by smart card
Only an AA card is enough
What is AA card……..
Do we have to pay extra money for replacement.
Aadhar card
Plz tell that how to add money in smart card bus pass
I am a college student I have filled the online application and I went to koramangala BMTC depot and was denied the printing of Smartcard. Please let me know the contact person’s enabling me to avail the service.
Documents required to make bus pas
Smart card not started in Kempegowda bus station please give information about the deta when will you are going to start
There is no accept card from satelliteto chamrajpet bus stand
I have made a manual pass long back but I heard September ending is last validity for it. So may I know the procedure to get smart card as I have registered online but shd I get any documents and college attestation again? What’s the procedure
I lost my college student BMTC bus pass. Now I wants to make a smart card. What are the procedures to be follwed and which documents to be carried?
this is only on document, there are no such card started by BMTC, i have inquired to customer care name pranav who clearly said that now they do not issue any smart card and said that contact after jan. 2017.
this clearly indicates failure to implement cashless ticket for BMTC, i have question to bmtc department why the hell this is happening because you people want to earn more money through ticket by cash.