Bangalore Police has ordered the shutdown of 1,037 ATM centres in Bangalore. Following the brutal attack of a woman customer inside an ATM in Bangalore last week, the State Government had ordered banks to post security personnel and install CCTV cameras (both inside and outside) all ATM sites.
The police had set November 24, 4 p.m. as the deadline for banks to meet the security norms.
As the deadline ended, about 1,037 ATM sites, almost a third of the total ATMs in the city, had not fulfilled the security norms.
The Bangalore Police had conducted a detailed survey of all ATMs sites. Based on the survey findings, the police held two rounds of talks with the bankers.
N. Parthasarathy, General Manager, State Bank of Mysore, said: “We have 193 ATMs in city. All the ATMs have onsite CCTV cameras, but we have been told to install cameras outside as well. We are taking measures to install them.”
Canara Bank, which has 508 ATMs in Bangalore, is also racing against time to get the security features in place.
Corporation Bank, citing lack of security personnel, has downed the shutters of its ATMs and is taking steps to recruit additional personnel.
“Vijaya Bank has 76 ATM sites in city. We got notice for two sites, and have initiated steps to increase security. ATMs will be in service from tomorrow,” said Y. Nageshwara Rao, General Manager, Vijaya Bank.
Bankers feel CCTV cameras outside the ATM site are still a major concern for them as they will take time to install.
According to a senior police official, “Some major banks have already fulfilled their commitments well before the deadline, but others have failed to. We are confident they will do it by this week.”
anil.u@thehindu.co.in