THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Post offices in Thiruvananthapuram ran out of money, the day after the government decided to demonetize Rs 500 and Rs 1000 banknotes. A small group of people, crammed into the narrow entrance of Poojappura Head Post Office, had to wait before exchange restarted in the afternoon. Aju K. from Malayinkeezhu was told that the office was out of currency and had only coins. Also in the queue were sub-post offices in various parts of South Division as the banks they were linked to did not supply sufficient money.
The employees at the single-hand centre at Cotton Hill, Vazhuthacaud had to go to bank branches nearby. The banks supplied less than the amount demanded, according to B. Padmakumar, superintendent of post offices, South Division. “The banks had to keep sufficient stock so that it can be disbursed through branches and ATMs,” he said. The post office at Poojappura had received only '4 lakhs from State Bank of Travancore. In some time, wads of fresh currency adding up to '10 lakhs were brought from General Post Office.
Though GPO is in the North Division, it is the only post office in Thiruvananthapuram linked to Reserve Bank of India, according to Padmakumar. “There won’t be any shortage on Friday, as banks would have filled their stocks well,” he said. None of the North Division post offices faced any problem, according to L. K. Gangadharan, superintendent of post offices, North Division. "The GPO had some money in excess, and they could give that," he said.
