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Cash crunch continues, normalcy unlikely soon

By Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Nov 14 - Banks remained closed on Monday, so did majority of the ATMs as people continued to face a harrowing a time for cash in the wake of the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes.

Banks remained shut on account of Guru Nanak Jayanti even as several cash vending machines across the city ran dry of currency, compounding woes for the common man.

People continued to hop from one ATM to another, only to face more disappointment.

Some ATMs, like the one of SBI at Dispur, which was being operated round the clock, have been witnessing serpentine queues.

The Union Finance Ministry has advised banks to increase cash withdrawal limits in ATMs to Rs 2,500 per day in recalibrated ATMs. People were able to withdraw only up to Rs 2,000 so far. But that has brought little cheer to the people.

�We are not able to withdraw a single penny. What�s the point increasing the limit, that too by just Rs 500,� said Mridusmita Barua, an employee of a private firm who has been unable to devote time to stand in the long queues due to her schedule.

The new currency notes of Rs 500 are likely to be dispensed from the ATMs soon.

However, recalibration of the machines for the new Rs 2,000 notes might take more time. An official of SIS Prosegur, which provides cash management services in over 250 ATMs in the city, said over 50 ATMs of SBI in the city were fed currency two to three times yesterday.

�The same is the case today. We are putting Rs 2 to 4 lakh - of Rs 100 notes - in the ATMs in every refill. People are withdrawing the maximum limit as a result of which the machines are not able to cater to maximum people,� the official told The Assam Tribune.

Today, a majority of the non-SBI ATMs could not be refilled due to the closure of the banks.

�The Reserve Bank of India is pumping more Rs 100 notes to meet the shortage in the region. As of now, the situation is lot better than what it was two days ago,� the SIS Prosegur official said.

�Our people are working day in and day out. The banks, particularly officials of the SBI, are constantly on the phone. Some ATMs were being refilled even after midnight. In the morning, the refill is at around 5.30 am,� the official said.

From Monday afternoon, the SBI is operating five mobile cash vans in Ganeshguri, RG Baruah Road, Beltola and Bhangagarh areas. People can withdraw cash up to Rs 1,000 swiping their cards in the machines being carried by the personnel in these vans. However, long queues were seen at places where these vans were operating.

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