Kolkata: Banks still sport ‘no cash’ notices, no let up in queues outside ATMs

At least 20 people each were seen in queue outside the four ATMs at Kolkata Municipal Corporation headquarters. Somali Basu, a school teacher, waiting for her turn, said: “If around 15 lakh crore in Rs 500 and Rs 1000 was taken out of circulation and out of it Rs 12 lakh crore have already been deposited, soon the total money will find its way to the banks. So, where is the black money? But for this, 90 people have died across the country.”

With no cash to dispense and no let up in queues, some banks are issuing coupons to its customers, which can be used only for one transaction. This has made the situation worse. “It took me twice the time to deposit and then withdraw some money. This is getting ridiculously tiresome,” said Mohammed Mohsin, a jeweller from south Kolkata. Meanwhile, on supply of currency notes, SBI Bengal circle CGM P P Sengupta said that on an average, 70 per cent of their ATMs had cash at least once in a day.