In January 2026, Tripura Gramin Bank (TGB) officially etched its name in history by launching India's first fully solar-powered ATM van, aptly named "TGB on Wheels." While banks like IndusInd and PNB had experimented with solar-powered fixed ATMs or partially solar-assisted vehicles in the past, TGB’s initiative is the first to deploy a mobile banking unit that is 100% powered by the sun, designed specifically to navigate the rugged, electricity-starved terrains of Northeast India.
The Story of "TGB on Wheels"
A Dream Under the Sun
Imagine the winding, emerald-green hills of rural Tripura. For decades, the villagers in these remote pockets faced a common enemy: the "power cut." Even as banking went digital, the lack of a stable grid meant that a trip to the nearest ATM often resulted in a long trek only to find a "Closed" sign or a lifeless screen.
Tripura Gramin Bank, which operates over 150 branches across these interior regions, saw this struggle daily. They realized that for financial inclusion to truly work, the bank had to go to the people—and it had to bring its own power.
The Innovation
In July 2023, the foundation was laid when Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman flagged off the bank's first mobile ATM project. But the bank didn't stop at just a "mobile" van. Supported by NABARD, they pushed the boundaries of green technology.
By January 2026, they unveiled the fully upgraded version: a van equipped with high-efficiency solar panels mounted on its roof. These panels feed a sophisticated battery system that keeps the ATM, the internal lights, and the communication equipment running entirely on renewable energy. Whether the van is parked in a sun-drenched valley or a shaded forest trail, it carries enough stored energy to serve hundreds of customers without ever needing to plug into a wall or burn a drop of diesel for a generator.
The Impact: Banking without Boundaries
When "TGB on Wheels" rolls into a village today, it isn't just a vehicle; it’s a festival of financial freedom.
* Reliability: In areas where the grid is "unreliable or absent," the sun ensures the ATM never goes offline.
* Inclusion: Farmers, small-scale artisans, and elderly pensioners no longer have to spend a day's wages on transport to reach a city branch.
* Recognition: This feat of "Sustainable and Inclusive Banking" earned the bank the prestigious SKOCH Silver Award, recognizing it as a national pioneer in innovative governance.
The Legacy
Today, with three of these solar-powered vans patrolling the "nooks and corners" of Tripura, the bank has proven that the solution to modern problems often lies in the most ancient source of energy. Tripura Gramin Bank has not just launched a van; it has launched a new era where the light of the sun directly fuels the dreams of the rural poor.
