Huge rush on pay day for cash in national Capital

Even on the 23rd day after demonetisation, banks and ATMs continued to disappointment. 

Impatience and anger prevailed as people in the national Capital continued to face hardships in exchanging demonetised currency notes and withdrawing money. People in large numbers queued up outside banks on Thursday to withdraw cash from their first salary received after the November 8 demonetisation at Jasola Commercial and New Friends Colony local shopping centre. Sarita Vihar, Jasola and New Friends Colony areas are posh areas. Even here, long queues were witnessed outside most banks and functioning ATMs. 

Shaheen Chaudhary, a private professional, standing in a queue at HDFC Bank in New Friends Colony, said: “I had taken a day’s leave yesterday (Tuesday) so that I could withdraw cash from the bank. However, the bank ran out of cash. So I have taken another day’s leave (Thursday) to try my luck again.” On Thursday, many skipped their offices as their previous attempts to withdraw cash proved futile despite standing in queues for several hours.

“There is a huge queue outside three ICICI Bank ATMs that ran out of cash at New Friends Colony,” said Rakesh Agarwal, a resident of the area. 

In Jasola District Commercial Centre, most of the ATMs and banks were cashless. 

There was a huge rush outside five different banks including State Bank of Patiala, State Bank of Mysore, Axis Bank, State Bank of India and Central Bank of India between 10: 30 am and 11:30 am. “Though the limit on withdrawals is Rs 24,000, banks are giving away only Rs 5,000,” he complained. “I have been standing here for the last three hours.” Manoj Tyagi, another local from the same area, added: “I have to pay my landlord, maid, newspaper guy and several others. I am not sure whether I will get cash as this ATM works only for an hour after it is refilled.” 

The scene was no different outside ATMs in Connaught Place. A number of ATMs in the city and suburbs displayed ‘No Cash’ notices while those functional mostly dispensed Rs 2,000 currency notes. Queues at banks in the city were relatively longer as many people wished to withdraw the maximum amount permitted to avoid a cash crunch in running their daily chores over the next few days. “Withdrawal at ATM is limited. I need bigger amount to run my family expenses. 

That’s why I am planning to withdraw Rs 24,000 from the bank,” said a man standing in a queue since 7.30 am.