Chennai: With banks closing for two days and ATMs running out of cash this weekend, people were forced to run in search of ATMs which dispensed cash and there were long queues in front of such ATMs in the city.
Banks were closed for two consecutive days despite the money circulation situation remaining tight and most of the ATMs along the banks too did not function, adding to the woes of the public.
People needing money for their weekend expenses rushed to the ATMs from the morning itself and many of them ran out of cash in a few hours. Once an ATM was emptied, people rushed by walk and in vehicles to the nearby ATMs where they had drawn money earlier.
Some of the ATMs which were functioning, only accepted cash deposits and did not dispense money, much to the disappointment of the waiting customers. The working ATMs too pushed out a Rs 2,000 note and people were running here and there to change it to small denominations.
Though bundles of new Rs 500 currency had arrived, they were not available in the ATMs. People were unable draw cash less than Rs 2,000 and none of the machines allowed the customers to withdraw the upper limit of Rs 2,500, as both Rs 500 and Rs 100 notes were not available.
Most of the grocery shops wanted the customers to buy commodities for at least Rs 1,500. Families which used to buy fish and meat for weekend found it tough to get change and people who used to buy vegetables for a week too were affected without change.
When the banks open on Monday, there will be a huge rush, but the distribution of money could begin only in the afternoon, after the banks get money for distribution.
