India’s largest warship — the 45,400-tonne INS Vikramaditya has its own ATM to cater to the over 1,500 sailors and 110 officers who serve on board the aircraft carrier.
The Navy has tied up with the country’s largest bank, the State Bank of India, for the ATM that will function with a satellite link on INS Vikramaditya. This comes at a time when people are still queuing outside ATMs around the country after demonetisation.
Though decommissioned aircraft carrier INS Viraat also had an ATM, it became operational only when the warship was in the harbour. With a satellite link, the ATM on board INS Vikramaditya will be able to function on the high seas as well, say officers.
INS Vikramaditya was inducted in 2013 under a $2.33 billion deal with Russia.
By Baishakhi Dutta