In a first for India, the Central Railway has installed an automated teller machine (ATM) aboard the Mumbai-Manmad Panchavati Express, operating on a trial basis. This initiative offers passengers the convenience of withdrawing cash while the train is in motion. Located in an air-conditioned coach, the ATM will be tested, with potential plans for expansion to other trains if successful.

Dr Swapnil Nila, Chief Public Relations Officer of Central Railway, confirmed the development and shared details about the installation. The ATM has been placed in a dedicated cubicle at the rear end of an air-conditioned coach, a space that earlier functioned as a temporary pantry. For security and ease of use during transit, the ATM is enclosed with a shutter and monitored round-the-clock through CCTV surveillance.

Additionally, passengers can not only withdraw cash but also access other banking services, such as ordering cheque books and viewing account statements. The ATM remains accessible to all 22 interconnected compartments of the train, via vestibules.

The Panchavati Express (12109), runs daily between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in Mumbai and Manmad Junction in Nashik. Departing CSMT at 6:15 PM, it covers the 259-kilometre journey in 4 hours and 35 minutes, arriving at its destination by 10:50 PM. During its return leg, the train (12110) leaves Manmad at 6:02 AM and reaches Mumbai CSMT at 10:45 AM, completing the trip in 4 hours and 43 minutes.

Making scheduled halts at major stations like Dadar, Kalyan, Igatpuri, and Nashik Road, the Panchavati Express is a crucial intercity service for commuters and travellers connecting Mumbai with northern Maharashtra. Plus, since the Panchavati Express shares its rake with Mumbai–Hingoli Janshatabdi Express (12071), the ATM facility will be available to long-distance passengers travelling beyond the Mumbai–Nashik corridor.

-Inputs from PTI