Here's the thing nobody tells you before your first ride: Mumbai does not have one universal metro card. Which card you need depends on which line you're riding, and getting this wrong means standing in the wrong queue.
Two cards, two systems
- Lines 2A, 7, and 3 (including the airport line): use the Mumbai1 (NCMC) card, an SBI co-branded contactless card that also works on BEST buses.
- Line 1 (Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar, Reliance-operated): uses its own separate Reliance Mumbai Metro smart card, with a ₹50 refundable deposit and its own app, "Mumbai Metro One." If you're switching between Line 1 and the others regularly, budget for carrying both.
Mumbai1 card: cost and discounts
Top-ups start at a ₹100 minimum, in multiples of ₹100 after that, capped at a ₹2,000 chip balance. You recharge via the SBI transit portal (transit.sbi), station counters, vending machines, or authorized vendors.
| Fare card product | Discount |
|---|---|
| Standard tap (Mon-Sat) | 5% off |
| Standard tap (Sundays/holidays) | 10% off |
| 45-trip / 60-trip pass (30-day validity) | 20% off |
| 3-day tourist pass | 15% off |
| 1-day tourist pass | Flat ₹200 |
| Senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and students through 12th grade get 20% off applicable passes. Note the discount doesn't apply if your single fare is under ₹10. |
Skip the card entirely: WhatsApp and app tickets
You can book via WhatsApp (scan a QR or message 86526 35500) for same-day tickets, or use the MetroConnect3 app for booking and card management across Lines 2A, 7, and 3. Single Journey Tokens must be used within 60 minutes of issue.
Bottom line
Check which line you're riding before you queue for a card - Line 1 needs its own card, everything else runs on Mumbai1. If you're only riding once or twice, skip the card altogether and use WhatsApp ticketing instead.