Visakhapatnam: The demonetisation of high-value denomination currency notes has not only created inconvenience in daily transactions but also affected the sale of tickets for India Vs England Test Match to be played at Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA stadium in Vizag from November 17. Though the old currency notes were being accepted, the sale of tickets was not encouraging as people were hesitant to spend the Rs 100 denomination notes to buy lower denomination (Rs 100, Rs 200, Rs 300) tickets fearing they would run out of currency. This apart, those selling the tickets were also not able to give change to the '2,000 notes offered by the people.
For the first time in the history of Vizag, India and England are playing a Test match in the city. The sale of tickets for the maiden Test cricket match in the city commenced at ACA-VDCA stadium, CMR Central Mall, Maddilapalem, Beach Lane Holiday Home, opposite Panduran-gaswamy temple, Beach Road and Popular Shoe Marts at TSR complex and near Poorna market, main road on Monday.
Online sale of tickets commenced a few days ago but only high-priced ones were sold through www.eventsnow.com. Tickets are available in the denominations of Rs 100, Rs 200, Rs 300 and Rs 500 and season tickets in Rs 1,000 and Rs 2,000 denominations. “I have sold only 50 tickets of Rs 100 and Rs 200 denominations since morning as I was not able to manage the crisis for change. Many of the purchasers came to the counter with Rs 2,000 currency notes to purchase Rs 100 or Rs 200 denomination tickets. I had very few Rs 100 notes and so refused to sell the tickets for such high-value denomination notes,” said J. Prem Kumar of eventsnow, who is selling the cricket match tickets at CMR Central, Maddilapalem.
“Watching a Test match in Vizag stadium is a dream for me. I had a tough time to get Rs 100 currency notes to purchase one ticket for the first day of the match. I had only one Rs 500 note. I was forced to buy fuel worth Rs 400 to get Rs 100 note for the ticket,” explained K. Siva Kumar. Some cricket lovers even retuned home disappointed as they could not buy tickets when those at the counters refused to accept higher denomination notes saying there was shortage of Rs 100 notes. The organisers of the ticket selling agency said they will try to sell maximum number of tickets on Tuesday and Wednesday by taking necessary steps to tide over the change crisis.
