ATM in Train
In a first-of-its-kind move, the Mumbai-Manmad Panchavati Express has become the first train in India to feature an onboard ATM, allowing passengers to withdraw cash while in transit.
The Mumbai-Manmad Panchavati Express has made history by becoming the first train in India to feature its very own ATM onboard. Yes, you read that correctly — now you can take out cash while the train is chugging along the countryside, which is probably more than you can say for the loos still clinging to the Victorian era.
This high-flying financial feat comes courtesy of a jolly good partnership between the Bhusawal division of Indian Railways and the Bank of Maharashtra. As part of the railways’ Innovative and Non-Fare Revenue Ideas Scheme (INFRIS — because of course it needed a snazzy acronym), the ATM sits smugly in an air-conditioned coach, enjoying more legroom than most passengers in Sleeper Class.
During its trial run, the cash dispenser performed admirably, dishing out rupees like a Diwali uncle at a family gathering. That is, until the train hit the tunnels between Igatpuri and Kasara — notorious for being where mobile signals go to die. A brief hiccup, to be fair, and hardly unexpected given that most of us lose connectivity just walking into the kitchen.
Ity Pandey, the Bhusawal Division Railway Manager and apparently the woman with the magic beans, shared, “The results were good. People will now be able to withdraw cash while travelling.” A promising statement, though one imagines the average traveller might have preferred a flush toilet first. Still, progress is progress.
The ATM’s not just a one-trick pony either — passengers can order chequebooks, receive account statements, and presumably question their life choices in front of a bright blue screen. Although it’s located in an AC coach, the service is open to all passengers across the train’s 22 coaches, thanks to those vestibules we usually ignore until someone shouts, “Arrey beta, bottle toh udhar reh gaya!”
Perhaps most amusing is that the very same ATM will do double duty for the Mumbai–Hingoli Jan Shatabdi Express, as both trains share a rake. One ATM, two trains, countless confused aunties wondering if this means they can now send money straight from Seat 43C to their niece’s wedding.
Security-wise, the ATM is no slouch either. It’s got a shutter system and is under CCTV surveillance, so no monkey business (though in India, one mustn’t rule out actual monkeys).
While the idea is laudable — and honestly, it’s about time — let’s not forget the elephant in the guard’s van: the rest of the railways. Trains still run on their own sweet time, loos resemble something out of a post-apocalyptic film, and platform food remains a gamble only the brave undertake. It’s a bit like serving champagne on a sinking ship — glamorous, yes, but we’d still prefer the leak fixed.
That said, Indian Railways deserves a polite round of applause and possibly a cup of chai for trying something fresh. If this experiment goes down well, expect to see more trains boasting ATMs — and maybe, just maybe, a clean loo that doesn’t double as a biology experiment.
Until then, keep calm and carry cash — or just hop on the Panchavati and take some out mid-journey. Cheerio!
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