Better luck next time: Cash evades Delhiites

NEW DELHI: The cash crunch continued on Friday, the 24th day of demonetisation. There were long queues outside ATMs while banks only catered to their own customers.
“We had asked for Rs 50 lakh in new currency but received only Rs 5 lakh. It was over in less than two hours,” said a staffer of a Zamrudpur bank. The staff of another bank nearby also blamed it on the lack of cash.
The story was the same in Connaught Place, where the manager of a bank branch said the desired amount of cash hadn’t come. “It will take a few more days for things to return to normal,” he said.
The banks also tried to explain the same to the harried customers standing in long queues. But no amount of explanations could end their resentment.
“I took a half-day leave from work to come here. But the bank told me to come later. How long will this go on? I have been living on credit and have run a fat bill with the local grocer already,” said Suman Saxena, a resident of Sarita Vihar. She said the government should ask the banks to stay open on the weekend to handle the salary rush.
Neeraj Kumar, a travel agent, said he was carrying his wife’s and father’s debit cards in addition to his own to be able to withdraw more money. “I don’t have a cheque book, and I need cash to pay the maid. Other basic needs can’t be managed through plastic money or net banking,” Kumar said.
Arman Ahmed, a sales professional, also said that his son’s school demanded fees payment only by cash. “I think this whole month, every day, I will have to stand in queues. I am also trying to get a cheque book,” he said.
December is also the time for vacation. Priambada Hazarika from Assam, who works with a cement company in Delhi, said, “I planned a trip three months ago, and if I cancel it now, I will lose a lot of money. But I need cash for this trip, which I am not able to manage.”
Hazarika would leave on December 5 for Himachal Pradesh and was banking on her salary to pay for the trip costs. “My husband and I are standing in ATM queues from morning,” she added.
ATMs, too, were running out fast or only dispensing Rs 2,000 notes.