DoP to set up 1000 ATMs across states under modernisation plan

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The Department of Post plans to set up 1,000 automated teller machines (ATMs) across the country under its modernisation plan, Minister of State for Communications and IT Sachin Pilot has said.

"The Department of Post (DoP) proposes to set up 1,000 ATMs and 820 head offices have been identified for setting up these ATMs. The remaining 180 post offices will be identified during the implementation phase," Pilot informed Parliament last week.

The head offices chosen for setting up ATMs covers all the states, with Andhra Pradesh leading the tally at 100 ATMs, followed by Tamil Nadu (92) and Uttar Pradesh (73).

As many as 61 ATMs would be set up in Maharashtra, 60 ATMs in Karnataka, 51 ATMs each in Kerala and Rajasthan.

Pilot said the DoP has computerised 24,969 post offices as part of the modernisation drive. DoP has selected five major technology companies for five of its technology advancement projects.

It has issued Letter of Intent to Infosys for two projects which are Rural System and Financial Services Integration, Tata Consultancy Services for Change Management, Sify for Network Integration and Reliance Communications Infrastructure for Data Centre.

DoP has got approval of Rs 1,877.20 crore to be spent across these projects over a period of two years and will seek additional funds when the need arises.

The DoP plans to computerise all its 1.55 lakh post offices across the country by 2013.