Petrol pumps won't accept old notes from tomorrow
However people can still pay for LPG cylinders using old Rs 500 bank notes.
New Delhi: The government on Thursday announced that the old Rs 500 notes can only be used at petrol pumps and airports for buying airline tickets till Friday midnight, again rolling back the earlier deadline of December 15.
However people can still pay for LPG cylinders using old Rs 500 bank notes.
The collection of toll on national highways across the country will also resume from Friday midnight. “The old Rs 500 notes will be accepted till the midnight of December 15, but this will only be for purchasing FASTags and for making toll payments of more than Rs 200,” said the road and highways ministry.
All other exemptions including using Rs 500 notes for pre-paid mobile top-up, payment of fees at government schools and colleges, in co-operative stores and utility bills will continue till December 15.
The Union finance ministry said that process of production, dispatch and distribution of currency notes has been continuing and more cash is flowing into the system steadily. “The digital transactions have also made an impressive progress and are expected to significantly improve during the coming days. Now, therefore, as digital transaction options have been increasing across different sections of the economy, it has been observed that the outlets of the oil and gas marketing companies are better equipped to accept payments through digital means,” said the ministry. It said that therefore, the facility of buying petrol and diesel with old Rs 500 notes is being withdrawn.
Petroleum ministry has set up a control room to help petrol pumps and CNG stations install cashless transaction mechanism.
“Similarly, it is observed that air ticketing counters have facilities to accept non cash/digital payments. Also, enough time has been allowed for travelers to be prepared,” it said.
Meanwhile road and transport ministry said that all toll plazas have been equipped with adequate numbers of swipe machines through which people can make payments using their credit or debit cards. It said that toll fee can also be paid through pre-paid instruments (electronic wallets). “As for making cash payments, the highway users are being requested to carry adequate change with them to avoid delay,” said the ministry.