Pune:
Cashing in on the lifestyle of Puneites, which includes erratic work schedules of the people, Katraj Dairy Milk has taken the pioneering step to provide their target group with milk ATMs (Any time milk), which will serve milk and milk products at slightly cheaper rates, 24X7. The first ATM will open at Katraj from April 4.
"This is no April fool, we are serious!" said Rambhau Tule, President, Pune District Milk Producers Federation.
"The first ATM will be inaugurated by the state Deputy CM Ajit Pawar. We are installing at least 10 more in the city soon if the first milk ATM gets generates encouraging response," he said. Katraj Dairy has already started a city survey in which they are prioritising the area where to set up these machines. Business areas, important market places and big housing societies are expected to 'milk' in more moolah for the corporators.
The first hi-tech machine will be brought from Ahmedabad and will be installed in the Katraj Dairy by next week. After technical testing, the machine will be in use from April 4.
"We had been planning to introduce milk for the citizens for past 3 years, and finally the dream is coming true. The prices of our products will be cheaper and initially we'll be keeping only cow milk for sale," Tule said.
Chandrashekhar Sonawane, the engineer maintaining the ATM, said, "We are paying a total of Rs 3 lakhs for the machine which include transport and octroi charges to bring it from Ahmedabad. The ATM will also have a cooling system to keep the milk fresh for 24 hours."