Lower costs, environment-friendly: BJP MP proposes nationwide digital metro card

BJP Rajya Sabha MP Surendra Singh Nagar on Thursday urged the Centre to introduce a "One Nation, One Digital Metro Card" for all metro systems across the country. He argued that a single interoperable, account-based digital ticketing system would make metro travel more convenient, environmentally sustainable and cost-effective.The issue was raised by the MP during Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha.Addressing the Chair, Nagar said India has emerged as the world's third-largest metro network, with nearly 1,090 km of operational metro lines across around 24 cities and an almost equal length under construction.He also noted that the Union Budget 2026-27 has allocated Rs 28,740 crore for metro projects, the highest allocation so far, describing it as a significant achievement in India's urban transport expansion. However, he pointed out that every metro city currently operates its own separate smart card system, making travel inconvenient for passengers."A Delhi Metro card does not work in Bengaluru, and a Bengaluru Metro card cannot be used in Bhopal. Every city requires a different card, separate balance and a different system," he said.NATIONAL DIGITAL, ACCOUNT-BASED METRO CARD PROPOSED The BJP MP proposed the creation of a national digital, account-based metro card linked to a commuter's mobile number rather than a physical plastic card. Under such a system, passengers would be able to use the same digital balance across metro networks throughout the country.He argued that instead of issuing separate plastic cards in every city, commuters should have a single interoperable digital account that functions across all metro systems.ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS OVER PLASTIC SMART CARDSNagar also highlighted the environmental impact of existing metro smart cards. He said a typical metro card is made of around 5 grams of PVC plastic, contains embedded chips and antennas, and is therefore difficult to recycle.According to him, such plastic can remain in the environment for hundreds of years, while manufacturing these cards also results in carbon emissions. Given the availability of digital payment technologies, he questioned the need to continue issuing millions of plastic metro cards across cities.PROTECT COMMUTERS' MONEYAnother key concern raised by the MP was the safety of commuters' money stored in metro smart cards. He said passengers often lose the balance stored on their cards if the card is lost, damaged or expires. In many metro systems, the deposited amount cannot be recovered easily.Drawing a comparison with banking and UPI, Nagar said just as money remains secure in bank accounts even if a debit card is lost, metro ticketing should also move to an account-based model, where commuters' balance remains protected irrespective of the physical card.He suggested that even if a mobile phone is lost or switched off, commuters should still be able to retrieve QR tickets or access their account using their registered mobile number.LOWER COSTS FOR METRO CORPORATIONSThe BJP MP argued that metro corporations currently incur substantial expenditure every year on manufacturing, distributing and replacing smart cards, operating recharge infrastructure and handling cash transactions.He said shifting to a digital account-based ticketing system would significantly reduce these operational costs. Nagar also pointed out that existing smart card discounts often benefit only passengers who maintain minimum balances or security deposits.A digital account-based system, he said, would allow students, daily wage earners and ordinary commuters to access similar benefits without maintaining large prepaid balances.THREE KEY DEMANDSSurendra Nagar urged the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs to take three major steps:Develop a national interoperable digital metro card that works across all metro networks in India.Enable all metro systems to gradually adopt QR-based and account-based ticketing, allowing commuters to use a single digital balance nationwide.Ensure that money stored for metro travel becomes fully secure, portable and retrievable, so passengers do not lose funds if a physical card is lost or damaged.Concluding his intervention, Nagar said India has already demonstrated global leadership in digital payments through UPI, and the time has come to extend the same digital public infrastructure to urban public transport."One Nation, One Digital Metro Card would mean less plastic, lower costs, greater convenience and safer travel for every citizen," he said.- EndsPublished On: Jul 30, 2026 21:02 IST