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State govt tightens ATM security norms

Cameras inside and outside kiosks, safety alarm And 24/7 security among the measures.

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The shocking and brutal assault on a woman at an ATM in Bangalore recently has come as a wake-up call for the Maharashtra government, which has listed out steps like compulsory and time-bound setting up of CCTV cameras inside and outside the kiosks and round-the-clock security at these facilities.  

On Tuesday, minister of state for home Satej (Bunty) Patil held a meeting in this connection with office bearers of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Indian Banks Association (IBA), the police and home department officials. In order to secure ATMs for customers, the RBI, it’s learnt, will come out with a circular with a time-bound schedule for banks to compulsorily install CCTVs or intelligent cameras with 90-day storage facility inside and outside such kiosks. The police may seek closure of the ATMs for security reasons in cases where these measures are not put into effect. “We have asked them to take steps in the larger interests of people,” Patil told dna, adding that banks have also been asked to fix rear-view mirrors at ATMs in certain locations. Maharashtra has a network of more than 8,000 ATMs.

The banks have also been told to fix all non-functional cameras inside and outside ATMs by December-end and the cameras need to be installed by January 30, 2014. All posters and promotional material on glasses at ATM kiosks will have to go to ensure complete visibility.

They have been specifically asked to avoid secluded spots while choosing to set up cash-vending machines and these kiosks will also have a software to raise an alarm in case of an emergency.
Other measures include provision of guards round-the-clock at ATMs, who will apply for arms licences to ensure safe delivery of large amounts of cash in and out of banks.

The meeting also touched on how banks generally shy away from reporting offences at their ATMs on fears that it may affect their business operations. These conditions will be incorporated by the RBI while giving its nod to non-banking financial companies to establish white-label ATMs.

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