People in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh made a frantic effort to go for last-minute refill at petrol pumps in the region as the demonetised `500 note would not be taken by them from Saturday onwards.
However, the bank customers faced another day of hardship in withdrawing money as the ATMs continued to be cashless while the banks had rationed the money to be given to them. There was a heavy rush of vehicles, including cars and two wheelers, at fuel stations, with many waiting in long queues for their turn.
The Government has brought forward the deadline of using the old `500 notes at petrol pumps and for buying airline tickets at airports till December 2 instead of December 15 announced earlier. Meanwhile, bank branches continued to struggle with cash shortage in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh on Friday, further compounding woes of people.
The queues still remain long outside branches and ATMs for cash withdrawal even as customers braving cold weather kept waiting for hours and could be seen arguing with bank staff for not giving cash as per their requirements. Many ATMs in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh ran out of cash while the bank branches went dry fast. At a PNB branch in Moga district of Punjab, infuriated customers vandalised property, officials said.
“We are trying to persuade customers about problems the banks are facing and most of customers are cooperating with the bank staff,” said PNB General Manager Ashok Gupta. Stating that heavy rush of people is being witnessed at bank branches, Gupta said the bank had received even less than half of the total requirement of cash.
“But RBI is making available new currency notes and we are expecting the situation will ease in coming days,” said Gupta.