CS flags off mobile ATM van for Puri district

Surjit Kumar Dhal, Bhubaneswar, May 21: Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi Tuesday flagged off a mobile ATM for Puri district from State Secretariat to facilitate consumers receiving cash.

Principal Secretary Finance Ashok Kumar Meena, Special Secretary General Administration & Public Administration SN Girish and Odisha Zone Head of HDFC Bank Sri Andaman Rajesh Srivastava were present on the occasion.

Flagging off the vehicle, Padhi said that this ATM would provide cash withdrawal facility in remote rural areas of Puri district.

            Meena told reporters that the banking services in Puri district is increasing rapidly with the increase in power and data connectivity.

“As of now all the banks in the district have started functioning. Around 40% of the ATMs are also functioning,” he said.

            Notably, mobile ATMs have been put to service in the areas having less data connectivity.

The State Cooperative Bank of Odisha has sent 15 mobile ATMs to different areas of the district. Apart from that the banks like HDFC, U Co and SBI have also deployed their mobile ATM wings.

As of now around 25 mobile ATMs have been set up for Puri district. Sri Meena added, expeditious steps are being taken for restoration of power and data connectivity. Mobile connectivity has been temporarily restored with mobile cellular towers.

Officials said there is no dearth of cash availability in the district and the mobile ATMs will provide withdrawal facility like the normal ATMs.

            Regional Head of HDFC Animesh Biswal along with senior officers from State Government and HDFC Bank attended the flag off event.