Chaos, anger as cash stock runs out
MAD SCRAMBLE Thousands join queues at bank branches and ATMs across the city on Friday to exchange notes and withdraw money, police deployed to maintain order The cash in most of the ATMs was exhausted in three hours. I am completely dependent on online shopping now for most of the things. But it’s difficult to get grocery.
avoided if it was made mandatory for banks to open all their ATMs.”
Delhi’s Uttam Nagar saw nearly 400 people queuing up at a bank, some of whom came in as early as 6 am. A security guard said there was chaos because the ATM was situated inside the branch.
People who waited on the first day of banks opening after Tuesday, i.e. Thursday, saw no respite on Friday. All banks were crowded since morning with people who came to exchange the scrapped 500 and 1,000 banknotes with fresh bills.
Cashing in on the opportunity, photocopy shops in Jangpura was selling the forms needed to exchange the money.
Unable to stand for several hours at a stretch, 60-year old Anju Devi sat under a tree after booking her place in the long queue. “What to do? My husband has gone to work. So, I had to come. I am standing here since 9 am and I haven’t got my money yet,” she said.
Dwarka residents faced a tough time as many ATMs were shut in the area. “The ATMs nearby are closed. Bank officials said cash would only come in by afternoon,” said Manoj who returned home from one such facility.
In Mayur Vihar’s Samachar Apartment market, many ATMs had exhausted their cash by noon.
Pranay Pandey, 86, a resident of Gulabi Bagh said, “I am a diabetic and can’t stand for long. All I have is Rs 100. I came late hoping that the queue would shorten. But all the ATMs have exhausted their cash.”
It was a tough day for security guards as most people could be seen quarrelling with them after cash was over.
“What can I do? I am not the manager of the bank nor did I make rules. People are questioning me as if I am the culprit,” said a guard outside the HDFC bank branch in Saket.
The cash in banks was over quickly on Thursday. Even on Friday, most of the ATMs were closed. The government has not made adequate arrangements.
42,000 per day per card till November 18. From 19, it will be revised to 44,000
CHEQUE/WITHDRAWAL SLIPS: 410,000 per day per branch, up to a maximum of 420,000 in a week (including ATM withdrawals till November 24). All banks will remain open on weekend, including the public holiday for Guru Purab (Nov 14). Banks are open till 9pm.
Aadhaar Card, driving license, voter ID card, passport, NREGA card, PAN card, identity card issued by government department, PSU to its staff. Carry a photocopy of the document also.
The current levy on more than five transactions has been waived off You can exchange old 500 and 1000 banknotes for up to 44000 only till December 30 at bank branches, offices of RBI and branches of commercial banks/RRBS/cooperative banks or at any head or sub post office.
If you have more money to exchange, it will be credited to your account.
All notes, including pre-2005 banknotes of 500 and 1000 can be exchanged/deposited
For exchange up to 4,000 in cash you may go to any bank branch with valid identity proof.
For exchange over 4,000, which will be credited to your account only, you may go to the branch where you have an account or to any other branch of the same bank. In case you want to go to a branch of any other bank where you are not maintaining an account, you will have to furnish valid identity proof and bank account details required for electronic fund transfer to your account.
You can get the notes exchanged in a relative/friend’s account if the account holder gives you permission in writing. You will need the evidence of permission and your valid identity proof.
If it is not possible for you to visit the branch you may send your representative with a written authorization. The carrier must also carry his/her valid ID proof. plained that the VIP visit led to chaos.
“Only three more people were ahead of me. My turn was about to come but Gandhi came in right then. So the line that went out of the bank broke and a small line was formed inside the bank where Gandhi waited for his turn,” said 45-year old Virender Khatri, who had waited for 30 minutes in the queue.
For the one hour that Gandhi was there, the bank had shut for a while due to ruckus. “We cannot stand for long as our knees hurt. We went to the gate of the bank, but there was heavy security ,” said a septuagenarian couple who rested at the fence of the bank’s boundary wall.
The BJP criticised Rahul for the show up at the bank. “Rahul Gandhi never stood in a queue to become the leader of his party,” said Union minister Prakash Javadekar.