Mumbai: In a first, Indian Railways has installed an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) on the Mumbai-Manmad Panchavati Express. This is a pilot project, the railways has claimed and will be extended to other trains if this move gains popularity among passengers.
But, is there really any need for ATMs at a time when most people are opting for digital payments?
“It will be years before all people in the country switch to digital modes of payment. There are still many people who depend heavily on cash transactions. The ATM is for passengers who suddenly realise that they will need some cash after reaching their destinations,” a senior railway official said.
Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw posted a video of the ATM being operated by a passenger on his official ‘X’ account on Wednesday and wrote: “In a first, ATM facility in train.”
The Bank of Maharashtra ATM has been fitted within an air-conditioned chair car coach of the daily express train. It has been placed in a designated cubicle towards the rear end of the coach. This space was previously used as a temporary pantry. A shutter door has been added to ensure both safety and ease of access during the train’s journey, the official said.
Necessary structural modifications to accommodate the ATM were carried out at the Manmad Railway Workshop. The Panchavati Express runs daily between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in Mumbai and Manmad Junction in the Nashik district of Maharashtra. It covers the distance in about four hours and 35 minutes. Owing to its convenient schedule, the train is preferred by many passengers.
