For the second consecutive days, people faced immeasurable problems at banks and ATMs on Friday as many of them failed to get cash in exchange and withdrawals from the ATMs in the national Capital.
There were chaotic scenes all across the city as harried people vent up their anger at security guards and police personnel. At many places, people had to return disappointed because many banks ran out of cash just hours after opening for the day. But at some places, people kept waiting outside the banks even after managers announced that the cash was finished.
“There is shortage of cash as old notes are no longer useable. I need to go to my office at Nehru Place but I have joined the queue as I have no cash and its getting difficult to survive solely through online shopping,” said IT executive Radhika, who queued up outside a bank in laxmi Nagar in east Delhi.
“I woke up at 4 am and rushed to the ATM to get cash but found that there was already a crowd complaining that there was no cash,” said 62-year-old Vimla Devi, a resident of IP Extension.
Additional forces were deployed at Punjab & Sind Bank branch of Chandni Chowk to control the huge rush since morning. Rapid Action Force (RAF) of Central Reserve Police (CRPF) and Quick reaction Teams (QRTs) of the Delhi Police were stationed at key locations as police vans patrolled the streets to monitor law and order situation across the city.
A security guard deployed at Oriental Bank of Commerce's branch at Connaught Place, told The Pioneer, people were asked to go after the bank disbursed all its cash by 3 pm but they were still not willing to go and remained in queue. “When the staff of the bank tried to explain the situation, a couple of them started arguing and shouted at us,” said police.
Similar scenes were noticed at nearby Central Bank of India at Wazirabad, where people argued with bank officials to let them in. While people standing in queue alleged that security guards and police personnel at the gate were letting their relatives and friends by jumping the queue
“People standing in queue started arguing with security personnel deployed at Central Bank of India, soon after we reached there and took situation under control,” said an RAF official.
Scenes at the main branch of Central Bank of India at Bahadur Shah Zafar were the same though the bank staff kept on attending all those who came to the bank to either exchange or withdraw money through cheques.
Assistant General Manager (AGM) Ram Narayan said, “We deputed all out staff to cater to the people as there was a heavy rush of people who wanted to transact and exchange notes. We disbursed cash till six pm in the evening. We are readying ourselves to meet the rush of customers on Saturday and Sunday.”
Rishi Mahajan, from Amrawati in Maharastra said, “I came here in Delhi on Monday with some cash and carried ATM card but who knows this all is going to be happen with me. Now I am spending my holidays here standing hours in a queue.”
“No one can understand the hardships I have gone through in the last two days and still without reliefIJ” shouted Rama Tiwari, a teacher with a private school.
Bharat Bhushan, a visitor said, “I was in queue yesterday for five hours and left empty handed after bank staff said there was no cash with bank now and today I am hoping to exchange old denomination notes with new ones.”
There were positive voices too as common people like labourers, drivers, vegetable vendors, hawkers in the long queues outside the banks welcomed the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. “It is a very good move...Babujee that's why Government had started Jandhan accounts with Rupay debit cards,” said a driver Ramprakash, who was in the queue to exchange his old notes.