BMTC smart card by February 15

Initially, to be available on 10 routes originating from Shivajinagar and Shantinagar bus stations

Bengaluru: The much-awaited smart card for BMTC buses could be a reality in the next two weeks. The cards can be bought for a fee of ₹5.

In the first phase, they can be used to purchase tickets on select routes and as a pre-paid card that can be swiped at merchant establishments just like a credit or debit card.

Initially, these cards will be made available on 10 routes originating from the Shivajinagar and Shantinagar bus stations. The limit for top-up is ₹10,000. Currency can be loaded online or through counters and ATMs of the partnering Axis Bank. For top-up more than ₹10,000, a customer will have to furnish identity proof.

The much delayed project, which was initially scheduled to be launched in September 2015, will finally be operational by February 15, BMTC Managing Director Ekroop Caur said. The pilot went through an extended testing programme among BMTC employees to iron out bugs.

“In the past two weeks, we have been testing these cards at merchant establishments. Besides being used to purchase tickets, because of their 'open-loop' structure, the cards can be used at point-of-sale (POS) enabled outlets as well,” Ms. Caur said.

According to Axis Bank, it will be the country's first open loop EMV contactless smart card. This means that other agencies can integrate their smart card schemes using the standards of this card.

Common mobility card

However, commuters are hoping for a common mobility card in the near future. “Why should someone have to carry separate smart cards for BMTC and Namma Metro?” said Akshay Singh, a resident of Indiranagar.

According to officials, Namma Metro will have to re-work its software to integrate its smart card with the BMTC’s open loop card. The integration is expected to take some time, an official said.