Namma Metro doesn't run a proprietary card - your smart card here is the RBL Bank Namma Metro NCMC Card, part of the national "One Nation One Card" scheme, and it's worth getting the moment you land in Bengaluru.
What it costs
| Item | Charge |
|---|---|
| Issuance | ₹50 |
| Initial wallet top-up | ₹50 |
| Total to walk out with a working card | ₹100 |
| Offline wallet cap | ₹2,000 |
| Max monthly load | ₹9,000 |
| Max annual load | ₹1,20,000 |
| Buy one at any station's TOM counter or at select RBL Bank branches around the city. |
The discount
Smart card fares are 5% cheaper than paying with a token at the counter. It's not the biggest discount on the map, but it adds up if you're commuting daily, and you skip the token queue entirely.
Recharging
You can top up via UPI, net banking, debit/credit card, a QR scan, the official Namma Metro-BMRCL app, or third-party apps like PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm, and FreeCharge. One thing that trips people up: if you recharge online or through an app, you have to tap in at a station gate within 60 days, or the recharge amount lapses. Don't let a top-up sit unused for two months.
Don't want a physical card? Use WhatsApp or Google Maps
BMRCL runs a WhatsApp chatbot ticketing system - genuinely one of the first of its kind - where you pay via UPI inside WhatsApp and get a scannable QR ticket, in Kannada or English, with the same 5% discount as the card. Google Maps can also issue Namma Metro QR tickets directly through Google Wallet if you're already navigating there.
Tokens, if you must
Single-journey tokens are sold at station counters and vending machines. They're valid for entry within 30 minutes of purchase and you tap them at the gate like a card - no separate return step required at exit.
Bottom line
If you're riding more than a couple of times, get the RBL card - the 5% adds up and it saves you the counter queue every single time. If you're just passing through for a day, the WhatsApp QR ticket is faster to set up than a physical card and carries the same discount.