Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Sept 22: J&K Bank network of Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) expanded to 851 when it threw open an ATM for public use in district Kulgam at D K Marg today. The machine was inaugurated by the cluster head Malik Shabir Ahmad at a simple but impressive function.
Out of 491 ATMs in Kashmir region 13such machines are now in district Kulgam. Almost 750 transactions took place through these machines in the district and card holders almost withdrew Rs.25 lakhs today.
Meanwhile, the Bank has restored functioning of371 business units (branches) and 267 ATMs across the Valley. Over Rs.96 crores were withdrawn by the customers through various transactions through these delivery points across the Valley. Pertinently, over 33000 transactions were conducted through the functional ATMs of the Bank in the affected region.
It’s worth mentioning that some major business units (branches) like Residency Road, Srinagar, Air Cargo, SSI Lal Chowk, Lasjan, Badami Bagh suffered extensive infrastructural damage. Among these branches, functioning of Residency Road, Srinagar Branch was restored a few days back. Other branches are currently being functioning from other locations of the Bank. The customers of these units have been conducting transactions and availing other services from these temporary locations.
The restoration of other affected branches and ATMs is in full swing and within weeks time cent percent delivery points will be fully operational.
While commenting on the efforts of the Bank to restore its banking operations in the flood affected areas of the Valley, the president of the Bank looking after Technology and Information Systems Division R. K. Shah said, “Modern day banking is wholly dependent on the internet connectivity. So, one of the biggest post flood challenges in restoring banking operations in the affected areas was the connectivity. Functioning of major telecom players like BSNL and Airtel collapsed immediately after floods caused extensive devastation across the Valley and resultantly our connectivity got snapped.”
Shah further said, “I salute my young technology team who despite being themselves affected by the flood fury, left their homes and carved out a solution to bring our branches and ATMs back on active mode. However, I must commend Aircel service provider which extended their connectivity support at this crucial juncture and we were able to make maximum branches and ATMs functional across the flood affected areas in the Valley.”
He assured that within weeks time all delivery channels (branches & ATMs) of the Bank would be functional at their respective places.
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