In what was described as fulfilling “a long standing need” by the State Bank of India, a new ATM machine has been set up by the public sector institution at Srinagar’s Dal Lake. India’s largest public sector bank, SBI added that this new ATM machine “will be an added attraction to the charm of Srinagar”.’
The newly installed machine will enable cash withdrawal facilities for both tourists and locals in the region.
The pictures of the machine, splashed across social media, were widely appreciated by the people.
SBI opened an ATM on a Houseboat at #DalLake, Srinagar for the convenience of locals & tourists. It was inaugurated by the Chairman, SBI, on 16th August. The #FloatingATM in the popular Dal Lake fulfills a long-standing need & will be an added attraction to the charm of Srinagar. pic.twitter.com/nz3iddHIdp
— State Bank of India (@TheOfficialSBI) August 19, 2021
At present, SBI which is one of the largest networks in the country boasts of 22,224 branches and more than 63,906 ATMs in India. In fact it has the singular distinction of being the largest commercial bank in India in terms of customers, deposits, assets, employees, branches, and customers.
Keeping pace with digital banking, SBI has more than 91 million customers who use the Internet banking facilities while another 20 million using the mobile banking services.
The idea of a floating ATM was earlier used by SBI in 2004 when for the first time it was installed on the Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation's Jhankar yacht (KSINC). This vessel operated between the Ernakulam and Vapeyan.
Dal Lake in the wake of the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic also got a floating ambulance. This was started by a Srinagar boatman, Tariq Ahmad Patloo and his floating ambulance service was praised by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi in one of his Mann Ki Baat programmes on Sunday.
Also read: Srinagar boatman over the moon after PM Modi praises his floating ambulance
Patloo's struggle in getting timely transportation to the shore of Dal Lake during his Coronavirus illness is what prompted him to design his own shikara as a water ambulance in order to ferry patients like him.
Recalling the incident Patloo had said: "I felt helpless in reaching the shore of Dal Lake and to further reach the hospital. It was a difficult time for me and my family. While recovering at a bed in the hospital I kept thinking about how to make a floating ambulance for all the Dal dwellers who are in need of this kind of facility.”
After discharge from the hospital, he designed the floating ambulance equipped with an oxygen concentrator, oxygen cylinder, first aid, stretcher, wheelchair, BP set and PPE kits.
