Bank/ATM queues shorten

TT, 25 November 2016: Queues were shorter outside most banks and ATMs on Friday than on previous days, officials attributing the development to the Centre's decision to stop exchange of old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. The scrapped notes can now only be exchanged at the Reserve Bank of India.

On Friday, another avenue to get cash opened - one can withdraw up to Rs 2,000 a day from any outlet of the INOX multiplex chain by swiping a debit card on a point of sale machine.

Return of regulars

A bank employee said that with note exchange being stopped, more account-holders than others had turned up at his branch on MG Road, near Daptaripara, on Friday. Over the past few days "more outsiders than regular customers" would flock to the branch, to get demonetised notes exchanged.

"The rush practically disappeared after the exchange option was withdrawn," an employee said.

Mamata Guha Roy, 62, could deposit money in her account in the branch in 20 minutes flat, which was unthinkable a few days ago. "I had to wait in a queue for three hours a few days back to withdraw money. Today, it was very fast," the MG Road said.

Plex money

The multiplex chain INOX has partnered with the State Bank of India to offer cash withdrawal facility of up to Rs 2,000 per card from their ticket counters starting this weekend.

According to the INOX authorities, people will be able to withdraw cash by swiping their debit cards at their point of sale machines installed at the ticket counters.

The cash withdrawal facility is expected to start in all INOX multiplexes in Calcutta from the weekend.