Delhi Metro's new Airtel NCMC card feels worse than the old DMRC card
Honestly the new Airtel NCMC cards in Delhi Metro feel like a downgrade compared to the old DMRC smart cards.
Current charges I found:
Prepaid NCMC card issue fee: around 249
Debit NCMC card: around 299-349
Annual maintenance charges (AMC):
Prepaid card: 199/year
Debit card: 299/year
Replacement card charges apply again like buying a new card
ATM withdrawal charges after free limit: 23 + GST
Other problems/demerits:
Higher initial card cost
Recharge sometimes doesn't reflect instantly
Need Airtel ecosystem/apps for some features
Customer support confusion between DMRC and Airtel
Some users reported failed tap entries/exits
Refund/closure process isn't very clear
Extra banking/KYC formalities for some variants
Metro card becoming more
banking product now
Old DMRC cards were simple and reliable without yearly fees
NCMC feature sounds good on paper but many buses/parking systems still don't properly support it
Some people reported balance sync issues after online recharge
Multiple variants create unnecessary confusion (prepaid/ debit/personalised etc.)
Feels like commuters are paying more while getting a more complicated system.
Meanwhile the old DMRC smart cards worked fine without yearly maintenance fees.