A marriage ceremony ended on a sour note after the bride lost her gold jewellery worth lakhs of rupees from Amma Kalyana Mandapam function hall in the city sometime ago. Similarly, thefts took place in other function halls like Seshasaye Kalyanamandapam, I.V. Palace and Idgah Mahal leaving a bitter experience to the bride and groom.
And, to tide over the problem, the Andhra Bank has come up with a novel idea of overnight lockers for safe custody of jewellery used in functions.
Speaking to The Hindu , Andhra Bank General Manager G. Ravi Kumar said that the people have emotional attachment to the jewellery, and any theft of such valuables would upset them. Safeguarding the jewellery presented to bride is biggest challenge to the people who hire marriage halls. So, the bank has come up with concept of overnight lockers.
The bank would give lockers for safe custody of the bridal jewellery or other valuables presented at the marriage. The lockers would be available on payment of Rs. 200 for overnight. All that they (customers) would have to do is to inform the bank authorities and fill up necessary application. They can deposit the jewellery at the bank lockers before 10 p.m., he said.
“The bank lockers win hands down, and are less expensive if their worth of jewellery were to be considered. The procedure is also simple,” he said, adding, “The customers could walk into the bank straight from parking place. The lift from parking lot takes them close to locker area.”
The bank was expecting that customers will get used to the new services during the current wedding season. The facility was offered at Ring Road Branch on an experimental basis. The services would be extended to other branches depending upon the patronage. Generally, the bank charges Rs. 1,400 to Rs 5,700 per locker per annum depending upon the size, he said.
