Little cash in hand, one more day to spend
High demand drains fresh cash stock quickly DELHIITES THRONG BANKS
Vandana Narayan (32) could not get fresh notes even after waiting for hours outside a bank in Mayur Vihar. “They are depositing money only now as they exhausted all cash. I missed my office today and will have to miss it again tomorrow,” she said.
In a surprise decision on Tuesday, the central government scrapped all ₹500 and ₹1,000 notes to curb fake bills and black money. After a day, the banks reopened on Thursday to issue fresh notes.
A few branches issued cash only to account holders owing to the high demand, said bank officials. Working professionals, with little time to spare at a bank, were the worst hit.
“I am stranded now. All I have is ₹250. The banks are so crowded. Office-goers won’t have the time to wait for twothree hours in a queue. If I am not able to access an ATM soon, I will have to depend on loans to survive,” said Rasheeda Mohamsaid med, who works at an office in Connaught Place.
A security guard at an ATM in Vasant Kunj said he was living off friends. He had just one ₹100 note, which he spent on Wednesday hoping to exchange old ₹500 bills on Thursday.
“Today, I was stuck here as I had a whole day of duty. I guess I have to manage another day. Tomorrow, I can get money from the ATM,” he said.
Most ATMs remained shut on Thursday and are expected to be operational from Friday.
Once these are up and running, people can withdraw a maximum of ₹2,000 per card per day till November 18. The limit will be raised to ₹4,000 per card per day from November 19.
However, many do not have debit cards to swipe for cash. An Indirapuram rickshaw-puller, who was refusing passengers because he didn’t have change, Banks reopened on Thursday to issue fresh notes
A few branches issued cash only to account holders owing to the high demand
I needed urgent money. So I came to the bank at 7.30am...To my horror, many people had already formed a queue. I am 70 years old. There are no separate queues for senior citizens I waited for an hour in the first queue. I want to withdraw cash, but couldn’t. They say their cash is over. The deposits queue is equally bad. Even after an hour in this queue, I am waiting. I have been at the UCO bank since 10:30 am. I am giving up after 3 hours. The queues are moving at snail’s pace. I have two kids waiting for me at home...I have to try tomorrow.
he had just one ₹500 note and nothing else. “Since morning, I have had few passengers because most of them didn’t have change. They preferred to walk short distances. I don’t have a bank account here and was depending on passengers. Now, it’s noon and I have nothing.”
I have been waiting outside the bank for two hours now . But I am willing to wait another two hours, if it will get my job done. I need loose change for my everyday life...