PayNearby, India’s leading branchless banking and digital network, is facilitating essential financial and digital services through over 15,000 multiutility retail touchpoints across Prayagraj for the millions of yatris attending the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025. These hubs will offer services such as cash withdrawals (ATM services), mobile recharges, and train ticket bookings, ensuring seamless support for yatris during their journey.
Through its partnership with the PM Vishwakarma Scheme, PayNearby is also empowering local retailers by enabling digital payment solutions – QR codes, to integrate them into the formal digital economy. This initiative aligns with the government’s vision to promote financial inclusion and digital adoption at the grassroots.
Accessing financial and digital services during a massive event like the Maha Kumbh Mela often poses challenges. PayNearby bridges these gaps by equipping its extensive network of retail partners with micro-ATMs and Aadhaar-enabled payment services, enabling yatris to withdraw cash conveniently without enduring long queues or navigating crowded areas.
In addition to cash withdrawal services, PayNearby’s retail partners will offer mobile recharges and train ticket bookings, ensuring yatris remain connected and can manage their travel plans without hassle. These comprehensive services simplify the pilgrimage experience, eliminating the need for multiple service points and enhancing overall convenience for yatris.
Anand Kumar Bajaj, Founder, MD & CEO, PayNearby said, “The Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 stands as the world’s largest event, a remarkable confluence of faith, culture, and community. At PayNearby, we are honoured to contribute by setting up assisted counters for essential services at Jan Sahayata centers and shops across Prayagraj. Our goal is to ensure seamless access to essential services for the millions of yatris converging in the city, reinforcing trust and convenience at every step of their journey.
This historic event highlights the immense opportunity and responsibility to empower Bharat’s grassroots and bridge accessibility gaps. By enabling digital and financial inclusion, PayNearby not only supports yatris but also integrates local retailers into the digital fold, fostering trust, economic growth, and community development. We are privileged to be part of this monumental occasion, working hand-in-hand with communities to make this celebration a success and a milestone for Bharat’s digital and financial progress.”
About PayNearby
Incepted in April 2016, PayNearby is a DPIIT-certified company and India’s leading branchless banking and digital network. PayNearby operates on a B2B2C model, where it partners with neighbourhood retail stores and enables them with the tools to provide digital and financial services to local communities. PayNearby’s mission is to make financial and digital services available to everyone, everywhere. The company aims to simplify high-end technology so that it can be easily assimilated at the last mile while transforming the lives of its retail partners and customers.
Today, through its techled DaaS (Distribution as a Service) network, PayNearby enables services like cash deposits, withdrawals, ecommerce, credit, insurance, travel, utility payments, and more. Currently, Pay Nearby’s 12+ lakh retail partners & 1.5+ lakh Digital Naaris spread across 20,000+ PIN codes assist over 5+ crore customers across the country, facilitating 25 crores yearly transactions.