Majority of ATMs in semi-urban and rural areas non-functional

Law Kumar Mishra

Patna: Even after 16 days of ban on high denomination currency notes, 90 percent of the ATMs in semi-urban areas and 100 percent in the rural areas in Patna, Nalanda and Gaya districts are non- functional. Banks are also short of currency in their chests.
On a 135 km stretch between Deedarganj on NH 31 and Wazirganj in Gaya district on  November 24, whether it was Noorsarai, Harnaut,Biharsharif, Nalanda archeaological sites, tourist place of Rajgir, Kurkihar, a place famous for Buddhist period
excavations, ATMs were either closed or displayed out of service signs. At Wazirganj bus stand, an HDFC ATM was open but without
money. Customers who inserted their cards were informed “sorry, there is some problem, money can not be dispensed.” At Harnaut, there were four ATMs on the highway of which three were closed and there was long queue outside State Bank of India ATM.

In tabsence of availability of currency notes, guests attending a marriage at Wazirganj were offering gifts in form of cheques only.
Some employees of Harnaut rail workshop wanted to send money to their children studying outside Bihar in engineering colleges but were disappointed as the money transfer was also not taking place in SBI branch or ATM. At Kurkihar SBI branch, officials regretted shortage of money in the chest and local account holders were advised to go to Gaya or Nawada, nearest district headquarters for money.
Vehicle owners were relieved as the toll plaza between Patna and Bakhtiarpur four lane highway allowed all of them to pass without
paying tolls .Only their numbers were noted down and a barricade put to facilitate employees at the counters to note down vehicle
numbers. Trucks and buses too had free movement through the toll plaza.