Karlakote SBI ATM Out of Service for Over 15 Days: Staff Cite ‘No Network Link’, Thousands Across Five Panchayats Left Struggling

Boden, July 19 Residents of Karlakote and nearby villages in Boden block of Nuapada district are facing severe inconvenience as the State Bank of India (SBI) ATM at Karlakote has remained out of service for more than 15 days. The prolonged disruption has sparked widespread dissatisfaction among local people, with customers returning disappointed after finding the ATM non-functional. According to local residents, whenever they approach the bank staff regarding the issue, they are repeatedly told that the ATM is not working due to a “network link problem.” However, no clear information has been provided about when the service will be restored, further adding to the frustration of customers. The Karlakote SBI ATM serves as the primary cash withdrawal point for thousands of people from Nagapada, Khaira, Palasada, Damjhar, and several other villages across five Gram Panchayats. Farmers, daily wage labourers, pension beneficiaries, and recipients of various government welfare schemes depend heavily on this ATM for their daily financial needs. With the ATM remaining non-operational, residents are being forced to travel to distant locations to withdraw cash, resulting in unnecessary expenditure of both time and money. The inconvenience is particularly affecting elderly citizens and people from remote rural areas. Locals have expressed concern that in the era of digital banking, an ATM remaining out of service for over two weeks reflects poor maintenance and inadequate customer service. Despite repeated complaints, the issue remains unresolved, raising serious questions about the bank’s responsiveness. Residents have urged the SBI authorities and the district administration to intervene immediately, restore the ATM services without further delay, and take effective measures to prevent such prolonged disruptions in the future. The people are now asking a pressing question: When will the administration finally address the hardships faced by the residents of Karlakote?