Blinkit has entered the public transport space with the launch of the NCMC Bharat Yatra Card. The move signals a clear move beyond groceries and daily essentials. Priced at Rs 50, the card is delivered directly to users through Blinkit’s quick commerce network. The idea is simple: to make access to public transport cards easier and faster without requiring people to visit metro stations or transport offices.
Blinkit CEO Albinder Dhindsa announced the initiative with a post on X where he said that it aims to support metro and bus usage across multiple cities with a single card. In a post on X, he wrote, “It’s a ₹50, zero-KYC, RuPay card which supports instant UPI top-ups and also eliminates the need for city-specific transport cards. This is a meaningful step in enabling public transport usage (metro and buses) across different cities in India.”
The Bharat Yatra Card operates under India’s National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) framework. It aims to unify transit payments across the country. It is powered by RuPay and issued in partnership with Pine Labs. A key feature of the card is zero-KYC issuance, meaning users can buy and start using the card without completing detailed verification at the time of purchase. This removes the need to stand in queues and makes the onboarding process simple and immediate.
Once purchased, the card can be topped up instantly using UPI, allowing users to add balance digitally at any time. This eliminates the need to search for physical recharge counters. The system is designed for convenience and speed, especially for people who do not use public transport daily. By simplifying recharges and usage, the card addresses one of the most common problems in urban commuting.
Key Features: The card works across NCMC-enabled metro and bus networks, allowing commuters to tap and pay at supported terminals. The focus is on interoperability, ensuring users do not need different cards for different cities or transport systems. Blinkit’s involvement is limited to distribution and delivery, but this role is significant. Home delivery lowers access barriers and makes public transport cards easier to obtain, especially for new residents in a city.
Availability: Deliveries of the NCMC Bharat Yatra Card have started in Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai and Ahmedabad. Blinkit has not announced a timeline for expansion to more cities, but the card itself is compatible with NCMC-supported transport networks across India. The launch positions Blinkit as a distribution partner in India’s push for unified digital mobility payments. It complements existing UPI-based ticketing systems instead of replacing them and allows users to explore flexible options.
Reacting to the announcement, a former Google employee and IIT alumnus shared his feedback on the initiative in response to Blinkit CEO Albinder Dhindsa’s post on X. While welcoming the move, he suggested adding city- or region-specific designs to the Bharat Yatra Card that reflect local stories and identities. He wrote, “Hey Albinder, can you please make some city or region-specific designs that tell local stories?”
Further, he also pointed out that Blinkit has a rare opportunity to create iconic regional assets through thoughtful design. The man even drew a comparison with Japan’s IC cards, which feature unique characters and visuals for different cities. In his words, “You have a unique opportunity here to create iconic assets for a region’s identity through design. The Japanese IC cards have unique characters for every city!”
The initiative has been largely welcomed online, with many users praising Blinkit for making public transport access simpler and more accessible. One user compared the NCMC Bharat Yatra Card to global transit systems, writing, “God bless. We finally have a Dubai-like Nol card in India.” Others highlighted that RuPay debit card users may already have access to similar functionality, but still called Blinkit’s Rs 50 doorstep-delivered card a “solid execution” and a practical step forward.
At the same time, some users offered a more competitive perspective, pointing out that Blinkit is not the first to attempt doorstep delivery of NCMC cards. One comment argued that Zepto is already ahead in this space, stating that the platform has been delivering the Pine Labs Bharat Yatra NCMC Card with instant metro access.
