In Barnaul in December will launch a virtual transport map

The service will also support instant balance replenishment. Now the city authorities are working on the conditions for its connection to the electronic fare payment system. The marginal cost of the service will be considered in October at a meeting of the Coordinating Council for Pricing of the city.

The draft virtual map was discussed on September 24 at a round table in the administration of Barnaul. The event was attended by representatives of the city administration, the Ministry of Transport of the Altai Territory, MUE Goralelectrotrans, MBU Centertrans and passenger carriers.

According to Tatiana Ermakova, Head of the Legal and Personnel Support Department of Centertrans, the electronic fare payment system has been operating in Barnaul since December 2016. During this time, residents and guests of the city purchased more than 332 thousand electronic media. Among them are non-personal, preferential, pension, school and student cards, as well as transport key fobs and bracelets.

The demand for electronic payment methods is confirmed by passenger traffic. In the eight months of 2026, it averaged 6.64 million passengers per month. 83% of passengers used electronic means for travel.

A virtual transport card will work on the same principle as a plastic travel card, but it will be stored in a smartphone. One of its advantages will be the ability to pay for a trip without an Internet connection.

To launch the service, the authorities prepared settlement documents for the cost of its connection to the electronic system. They'll be reviewed in October. After that, specialists should prepare the necessary regulatory framework and ensure the technical readiness of the system by December.

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