Today our life has been made easy by Automated Teller Machines(ATMs) and there can be nothing more heartening than an ATM on a mountain top near an international boundary.

The highest ATM in the world and the first one on the Silk Route near the Sino-Indian border at Nathula was inaugurated recently. The ATM which was opened by UTI Bank at an altitude of 13,200 ft would be useful to the armed forces posted there and for the large number of tourists, who visit Sikkim. The ATM has also been neccessiated by the fact that there is no banking service between Gangtok and Lasha. With this UTI Bank becomes the first bank to invest real money in the Silk route after the decision to open the Nathula border was taken.  The place had been chosen keeping in mind that most of the army personnel possess ATM cards and the centre would help them to transfer money to their families would now become easier.

The ATM which was set up in partnership with the army had been on trial run for the last few months. The machine had been made in Scotland and specially designed to withstand sub zero temperatures. It runs with the help of a generator, which has been bought from Daman, because there is no provision of power in the place. The Bank authorities said the ATM runs on a special UPS and special satellite equipment to withstand the extremes of temperature. It has been set up at a cost of Rs 35 lakhs. The people from Tamze, Thegu, Chhangu, Serathang, Kupup, Gnathang could also utilise the ATM for their banking transactions.

| Sikkim | North East Enquirer (Headlines) | Nena Home Page |