The Central Railway’s (CR) experimental ATM onboard the Mumbai-Manmad Panchavati Express has entered its operational phase as of with early reports indicating steady usage.
Installed in Coach C-13’s repurposed pantry space, the facility—collaboratively managed by CR and now offers ₹10,000–20,000 daily withdrawal limits, addressing passenger demands for mid-journey cash access. Officials confirm plans to extend the pilot to Nagpur-Mumbai routes if successful.
Operational Rollout & Early Feedback
The ATM became fully operational with passengers reporting ease of access during the 5.5-hour journey. “I withdrew cash to pay for a taxi at Manmad—it saved me time,” shared Ramesh Patil, a frequent traveler. CR officials note an average of 50–70 daily transactions, primarily between 10 AM and 6 PM.
Security measures, including CCTV monitoring and emergency stop protocols during sudden halts, have been added post-trial feedback. A bank representative revealed, “We’re testing contactless card readers to speed up transactions.”
Technical Upgrades & Partnerships
To address connectivity gaps in rural stretches like Kasara Ghat, CR has partnered to install mobile signal boosters in Coach C-13. Additionally, solar-powered battery backups now ensure uninterrupted service during frequent power fluctuations.
A railway engineer stated, “We’ve reduced transaction failures from 15% to under 5% since April.” Talks are underway with NPCI to integrate UPI QR codes at the ATM for cardless withdrawals.
Equity Concerns & Expansion Plans
While the ATM serves AC coach passengers, CR has announced plans to trial similar facilities in non-AC sleeper coaches on the Mumbai-Kolhapur route.
Advocacy groups like the Rail Passengers’ Association have urged focus on general compartments: “Cash dependency is higher among low-income travelers,” said their spokesperson. CR’s divisional manager added, “We’re exploring compact, low-cost ATM models for non-AC coaches.”
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
This initiative’s success hinges on its ability to serve all passengers equitably, not just those in premium coaches. While tech upgrades like solar power and UPI integration are commendable, excluding non-AC travelers risks perpetuating a two-tier system.
As CR scales this project, transparency in impact assessments—such as publishing gender-disaggregated usage data—will build public trust.
