Overview
- Transport minister Pratap Sarnaik announced on Friday that women may continue to use concessionary fares without NCMC smart cards until December 31, 2026, with the administrative deadline pushed to January 1, 2027.
- MSRTC has issued about 1.1 crore NCMC cards but found many registrations were not completed, with problems most acute in rural areas where people lack access or awareness of registration centres.
- Reporting shows MSRTC’s average daily revenue fell from Rs 33 crore in September to Rs 28 crore in October and that losses rose year‑on‑year, a financial strain officials cited when deciding to relax the rule.
- To clear the backlog, MSRTC will run special registration and distribution camps coordinated with gram panchayats, local representatives and passenger groups and has set a target of 100% registration by December 31, 2026.
- The extension immediately protects daily commuters who rely on state buses while officials work to finish enrolment, and observers should watch whether the relief is broadened to senior citizens and if the registration drive restores fare receipts.