Himachal plans to open 800 more bank branches by 2016

Himachal Pradesh proposes opening about 800 more bank branches by 2016, mostly in the state's rural areas, under a comprehensive financial-inclusion plan, a senior official said Monday.

Speaking at the state-level meeting of bankers convened by UCO Bank here, Chief Secretary Sudripta Roy said 31 new branches were opened during the last quarter till March 2013 out of which 25 were located in rural areas.

At present, the state has a network of 1,666 bank branches and 861 ATMs.

On issuance of Aadhar cards, Roy said the state has attained 93 percent Aadhaar coverage. "We intend to achieve nearly hundred percent Aadhaar generation by September."

He said under the implementation of Annual Credit Plan for 2012-13, the banks had provided loans of Rs.8,824 crore during last fiscal.

"In this fiscal, the banks are aiming to lend Rs.11,548 crore by increasing financial outlay to about 24 percent over the previous Annual Credit Plan," he said.

On loss to public and private property in the recent rains, Roy said the state has sought a financial assistance of Rs.1,000 crore from the central government for relief and rehabilitation works.