The ghost of demonetisation is back to haunt Mumbaikars. For the last two days, ATMs across the city have been running dry. Mumbai Live spoke to several harried citizens who had been doing the rounds of ATMs in suburbs like Malad and Goregaon and in the city centre - Lower Parel and Elphinstone Road - and were unable to withdraw any cash at all.
The scenario is the same in cities like Delhi and Hyderabad, say reports. The last time this happened was after the government demonetised high value currency notes of Rs 1000 and Rs 500. ATMs ran dry for many days, and till the new Rs 500 notes came into circulation, several ATMs had put up shutters. A similar situation appears to be unfolding again, albeit for mysterious reasons. Sources say the end of the fiscal year, combined with a slew of public holidays has caused the financial crunch.
Vishwas Utagi, Vice-President of All India Bank Employees Association, (AIBEA) has stated that Rs 2,000 notes are not available in most of the ATMs across the city. There seems to be a technical default in various ATMs. Turns out that the Reserve Bank of India has not issued adequate notes to the private banks due to which there is lesser availability of different denominations of new currencies.
Sneha Jamboti, a Mumbaikar told Mumbai Live, "I was about to go to my native place, but when I came in to withdraw cash, the ATM had no money. Months have passed since demonetisation but there seems to be no hope for 'Acche din." Ouch!
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