Indian Railways has introduced an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) onboard the Mumbai–Manmad Panchavati Express.
Positioned within an air-conditioned coach that formerly housed luggage, the ATM is accessible to passengers across all 22 interconnected coaches, creating a new touchpoint for financial convenience while in transit. The pilot initiative marks a significant stride in integrating essential services into long-distance train travel—a sector that has remained largely analogue despite the surge in digital infrastructure. Officials involved in the project have confirmed that the machine is operational with only minor signal lags experienced in the initial phase. Passenger feedback has been notably positive, especially from those caught off-guard without cash during travel, highlighting a latent need within India’s mixed-mode economy where digital payments haven’t reached full saturation, particularly in remote or cash-only zones.
The onboard ATM aligns with Indian Railways’ larger digital transformation roadmap and sustainability targets. By reducing the dependency on detours for banking or cash needs, this move enhances passenger efficiency while subtly cutting down urban congestion that arises from last-mile connectivity challenges. It’s a small, innovative pivot, yet one that could compound into significant impact across India’s vast railway network. Alongside this, Indian Railways has made strides in improving its ticketing processes. Offline ticket holders—long constrained by the need to physically visit railway counters for cancellations—can now initiate the process digitally via the IRCTC website or by dialling 139. While passengers are still required to visit the station to collect refunds, the shift to online initiation is a welcome first step in simplifying bureaucratic friction.
However, the system retains a caveat: tickets that remain on the waiting list and do not get confirmed must still be cancelled manually at the counter before the scheduled departure to qualify for a refund. This has drawn mixed reactions from passengers who appreciate the progress but urge for a more seamless, end-to-end digital process. These updates, although incremental, are critical to reimagining Indian Railways as a future-ready mobility ecosystem. The onboard ATM experiment, if scaled successfully, could set a precedent for service-oriented reforms in public transport—a space often left out of broader discussions on urban transformation and sustainable city planning.
With over 23 million daily passengers, Indian Railways is not merely a transportation lifeline; it is a barometer of India’s social equity and access to services. Embedding convenience into such a system is not just about customer satisfaction; it’s about inclusive growth and responsible modernisation. If such innovations continue to expand with a focus on equitable access and low-carbon infrastructure, Indian Railways could well be on its journey toward a greener, smarter, and more humane future.
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