How to Check Metro Card Balance at home, Apps, and Stations

How Metro Card Works

A MetroCard is also popularly known as a One Nation, One Mobility Smart Card. It is a physical card that enables your metro journey faster; you don’t need to wait in line to get tickets.

Alternatively, it stores travel balance for metro rail systems across India.

You load money into it, and the fare is deducted automatically whenever you travel via metro or eligible services such as City Bus. Unlike debit or credit cards, the money is not directly linked to your bank account; it functions as a travel wallet.

Here’s the simple life cycle of a MetroCard: how it really works:

1. When you do recharge: Online (apps, wallets, UPI, and WhatsApp) or you just used offline (ticket counters, AVM or TVM metro machines).
2. Travel: Tap at the entry scanner bar, then the gate opens, ride. After that, just tap on the machine at the exit gate.
3. Balance Deduction: Fare auto-calculated and deducted.
4. Recharge Sync: If you recharge online, the balance updates only when you “sync” the card at an Automatic Vending Machine (AVM) or ticket gate.

Note: This is why some users recharge through apps but don’t see a new balance until they tap their card at a station.

How to Check Metro Card Balance at Home (Delhi Metro Example)

If you are searching for a direct or online solution, you want a mobile-based solution without visiting the station. Delhi Metro is the best example, because it has its official Saarthi App.

As per the Data from the Play Store, it has up to 1 Cr downloads till August 2025, and it is trending with ratings of 3.8 from 65k active users of the app. Let’s check where you find your latest balance –

Steps for Android Users

1. Firstly, you have to install it directly by searching for its name – Delhi Metro Saarthi App.
2. Open the app, and you will need to log in first, enter any your active mobile number for 6-Digit OTP to verify it.
3. After that, fill out your basic profile details, like your full Name, Occupation, Email ID, and City.
4. Now, tap on the Top-Up Metro Card Button in the dashboard section.
5. Select the option: Add new MetroCard.
6. Here, enter your card number (it is usually printed back of your card, just flip it) and enter any nickname you want.
7. Simply save it, and your remaining balance will show instantly in the app.

Steps for iPhone Users

However, the process is mostly similar, but in different sections you have to select here, follow the steps –

1. As I already told you, install the app from the App Store.
2. Open, here you will show two options –
   • Book QR Tickets
   • Virtual Smart Card
3. Select Virtual Smart Card and tap on Add Your Smart Card.
4. For signing up, it asks for your mobile number and a quick OTP.
5. Provide your 8 to 12 digits Card number and Your Full Name
6. Tap on Save Card, and the app now shows your current balance in the virtual card section.

Which Other Cities Have Metro Apps?

If you are from another city and looking for the current amount information about your smart card, you need to download the city-specific metro app.

According to the press release of PIB, as of May 2025, India has 23 cities with operational metro rail systems. Most metros provide their own official app, and the balance check process is the same –

Tip For You: For all cities’ metro services apps, the apps are quite similar in UI and process for enquiry. Just install and open the app, add your 8 to 16-digit numbers, depending on the cities, like Bangalore, use 11-digit numbers for their cards and view balance info. Also, no registered mobile number is required — only your card details.

When to Use Station Machines Instead of Apps

If you are at the metro station, there are three types of machines available:

1. Ticket Counter Machine (Automatic Large Machine) – It is usually found near the customer care counter, and it shows your balance just by inserting it in the port. It also allows you to recharge or top up your balance via Cash, Card, UPI or QR scanner.
2. AVM Machine (Smaller Wall-Mounted Device) – These devices are usually fixed on station walls. You just tap your smart card and it instantly displays your current balance, last travel details, and recharge option.
3. TVM Devices – Most metro stations have touch-screen kiosks where you can swipe your card to manage and inquire.

Who Can Use an NCMC Card Instead of a Metro Card?

Apart from city-specific metro cards, NPCI also launched NCMC (National Common Mobility Card) for all nation in March 2019. You can use any city metro rail, rapid, airport metro, buses, tolls, and even retail stores. The difference:

• An NCMC card is bank-issued (like a debit card) and works for metro + other services. It came up as a Ru-Pay card. such as the State Bank of India (SBI)’s release of a prepaid NCMC card on August 30, 2024.
• A MetroCard is a prepaid or virtual wallet and only works for Metro travel.

Steps to Check NCMC Balance Using Mobile Apps

Unlike metro-only cards, NCMC cards are supported by Paytm, Google Pay, PhonePe, and banking apps.

Example: Checking Balance on Google Pay

1. Open the Google Pay app.
2. Search for NCMC Smart Cards in the search bar.
3. Enter your issuing bank or company name.
4. Provide your mobile number.
5. Enter the last 4 digits of your NCMC card number.
6. Add a nickname for the card.
7. The app fetches your remaining balance and shows recent usage.

What Are the Alternative Options for You

Let’s explore a few additional options besides apps and the Metro AVM machine –

1. At entry and Exit Gates – when you show your card at the gate, there is a small display that flashes your remaining balance for a few seconds.
2. At Ticket Counters – Just give your card to the customer care staff the swipe it, and instantly provide your balance. If the card does not work, they will help you replace it.
3. Via SMS (Linked Cards only) – Paytm-linked Delhi Metro cards send SMS alerts after every trip with updated balance.
4. Through Recharge Receipt – Whenever you recharge, the receipt or mini-bill message shows the updated balance.

What If My Online Recharge Is Not Working?

This is a common issue across all metro systems:

1. You recharge your card using an app (Saarthi, Namma, TSavaari, Paytm, etc.).
2. The money gets deducted from your bank account, but the card still shows the old balance.
3. To fix this, you must go to any AVM machine at a metro station, place your card on the reader, and tap “Touch Up Recharge Now”.
4. Only then does the recharge get written into your card memory, and it works at gates.

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