Tightened norms, use of ink, cut short bank queues

With tightening of the exchange norms and use of indelible ink, the serpentine queues before banks' branches have shortened, though the ATM transaction continues to be a nightmare in the metropolis.

The continuing cash crunch since the November 8 announcement of demonetisation of higher value currency notes has seen people throng banks in huge numbers. However, on Friday several banks witnessed no queues as exchanges norms were tightened in addition to the use of indelible ink, which kept many people away.

A manager with private sector Lakshmi Vilas Bank in the central business district of Dalhousie said, "We are not allowing exchange till 2.30 PM. But customers can come and withdraw money from their accounts within the limit". This is why there are no queues outside and exchange would happen only for a short period- from 2.30 PM till the close of banking hours, he said.

Nationalised banks like the Bank of Maharashtra, State Bank of India and others saw no betterment in the situation as people continued to throng for exchange of old currency notes. ATMs, however, like the past few days ran out of cash in most of the places in the city. With almost every ATM downing shutters during daytime, people crowd in front of them in the evening when word of cash vans refilling money quickly got around.