New Delhi: To make the life of people a bit easier, the Union government added more categories which would accept Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes till November 11 midnight.
Finance ministry ordered banks to remain open full day on Saturday and Sunday to deal with the rush of people wanting to deposit the defunct currency bills.
Besides, many banks would work extra hours on Thursday and the day after.
The finance ministry said on Wednesday that now people can use Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 to pay for Metro Rail tickets, highway and road toll, purchase of medicines on doctor prescription from government and private pharmacies, LPG gas cylinders, railway catering and ASI monuments entry tickets.
A 72-hour relaxation for use of such notes was given on Tuesday for government hospitals, railway ticketing, public transport, airline ticketing counters at airports, milk booths, crematoria/burial grounds and petrol pumps.
Petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan warned petrol pumps against refusing to accept the notes. Mr Pradhan said that he himself was monitoring the situation. The minister had a video conference, too, with the senior officials of the oil marketing companies to ensure that people don’t face any problems.
