Toll plazas to accept demonetised notes till November 11 midnight

The government on Wednesday allowed toll plazas' operators to accept the demonetised currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denomination till the midnight of November 11.

According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has instructed all the operators to accept the currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denominations.

"The government has permitted fee collectors at toll plazas on highways to accept currency notes of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 denominations till the midnight of 11.11.2016," the ministry said in a statement.

"NHAI has issued instructions to all the concessionaries including BOT (build-operate-transfer), OMT (operate-maintain-transfer) operators and other fee collection agencies in this regard."

The ministry added that orders have been issued to avoid difficulties that may be faced by the highway users following the demonetisation of the Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes by the Finance Ministry from midnight Tuesday.

On Tuesday evening, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that hospitals, railway, bus and airlines ticket counters will continue to accept Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes for the next 72 hours.

Modi had announced these measures to smoothen the transition process of demonetisation for curbing black money in the country.

According to the Prime Minister, these people friendly measures will minimise the inconvenience of the government's decision to withdraw Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denomination notes from Tuesday midnight.

--IANS

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