In a first-of-its-kind initiative aimed at enhancing passenger convenience, Indian Railways has launched the country’s first onboard ATM on the Mumbai-Manmad Panchavati Express. This unique facility has been introduced by the Bhusawal Division of Central Railway in collaboration with the Bank of Maharashtra.
Installed inside an AC coach, the ATM underwent a successful trial run on Tuesday. Despite network challenges in the ghat section between Igatpuri and Kasara—an area known for signal issues due to tunnels and weak connectivity—the ATM is fully functional in most parts of the route and allows passengers to withdraw cash even while the train is in motion.
The initiative is part of Indian Railways’ Innovative and Non-Fare Revenue Ideas Scheme (INFRIS), which aims to provide value-added services to passengers while generating additional revenue streams.
Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of Bhusawal, Iti Pandey, called the development a significant step forward in improving passenger facilities. “This initiative will enable travelers to access essential banking services on the go. We’ll closely monitor the ATM’s performance and feedback from users,” she said.
Although the ATM is located in an AC coach, it remains accessible to passengers from all 22 coaches of the Panchavati Express, thanks to interconnected vestibules. Beyond cash withdrawals, passengers can also use the machine to request cheque books and access account statements.
Interestingly, the same ATM-equipped coach is used in the Mumbai-Hingoli Jan Shatabdi Express, which shares its rake with the Panchavati Express—extending the benefit to even more travelers on a longer route.
To ensure safety, the ATM cell is equipped with a shutter and is under 24×7 CCTV surveillance.
Railway authorities indicated that if the initiative receives a positive response, similar onboard ATMs may be introduced in other trains across the country.
