Complete chaos: ATMs dry out, tollgates and train counters refuse to accept Rs 500 notes

Travellers suffered as their notes were turned down in railway counters and hotels

people withdrawing money at atms
people withdrawing money at atms
Gireesh Babu Chennai
Last Updated : Nov 09 2016 | 11:10 AM IST

Small and Medium enterprises, including the wholesale markets in Tamil Nadu have been hit due to the Government's decision to withdraw Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes from circulation. Meanwhile, ATMs in most part of Tamil Nadu dried out on Tuesdaye night and fights broke out at tollgates and petrol pumps. 

Travellers suffered as their notes were turned down in railway counters and hotels. For example, people who are travelling from Coimbatore to Jollerpatai have to pay Rs 115 for their tickets but those who went to the counters with Rs 500 notes were turned down despite government's assurance that citizens can exchange Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes at train stations. 

In tollgates located at the highways, people were seen getting into fights after they were refused change for Rs 500 and Rs 1000. 

People were  standing in ques for one hour or two hours.

Similarly gas cylinder supply to the customers also have been hit since people are not able to tender change.

While welcoming the Government's decision, some of the citizens have said that more steps could have been taken while implementing the decision to avoid trouble to common man.

Minutes after the Prime Minister announcement the government decision to withdraw Rs 500 and 1,000 notes from circulation, people have lined up in que in front of ATMs to withdraw some cash mostly of Rs 100 denomination.

Within minutes ATMs ran of Rs 100 notes, as people tried to withdraw Rs 400 from ATMs. Almost all the ATMs were shut by midnight.

Petrol pump owners too turned down people who wanted change for Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 and asked them to use credit cards or debit cards. This led to fight between the customers and petrol bunk staffs.

To avoid such incidents many of the petrol bunks have decided to stay shut today.

 

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First Published: Nov 09 2016 | 10:54 AM IST

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