Thrissur: The non-functioning of almost all the ATMs of the major public sector banks and private banks on Friday put the public in a tight spot in Thrissur and Palakkad. Though there were more than 120 ATMs of SBI in Thrissur region only a few including those at e-lobby at Naduvila functioned in the morning but were emptied within a few hours. The ATM of Thrissur District Co-operative Bank on Kurupam Road functioned and some of the ATMs of Axis Bank were also available to withdraw money on Friday morning.
Sources close to SBI Administrative office in Thrissur told DC that most of its ATMs in the district would start vending Rs 100 and Rs 500 on Saturday. SBI sources said that almost all of their ATMs have been out sourced and the private agencies need to get enough notes from their branches to fill them at the money vending machines. Private sector banks in Thrissur told DC that due to shortage of notes most of their ATMs did not function on Friday, but assured that all of them will start functioning by Saturday.
As the ATMs were not filled with money, the customers rushed to banks for withdrawals and compared to Thursday there was more rush in banks for exchange of old notes on Friday. Public sector banks provided notes of Rs 100 and Rs 500 denominations during exchange and for those withdrawing from their accounts, Rs 2,000 notes were given.
YC Protest in Palakkad
Youth congressmen in Palakkad on Friday took out a protest rally against the alleged lack of proper arrangements to provide currency notes to public. It is learnt that some of the mega textile showrooms in Palakkad were accepting Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 old notes from customers who did bulk purchase for weddings.
Some of the jewellers were also receiving money through online fund transfer from customers by which a sum below '50,000 can be transferred a day.
