New Delhi: In not so good news for people saving their old Rs 500 notes for commute on Metro trains or railways, these notes can no longer be used for these services. Daily commuters complained that the move will make their everyday commute harder due to cash crunch in the market and scramble for change will be another hassle.
In the latest communiqué, the government on Friday advanced by a day the last date for using old Rs 500 notes to purchase tickets for travel by train, government or public sector undertaking-run buses and commuting on suburban and Metro rail services.
According to the latest communication, effective midnight of December 9, old Rs 500 notes can no longer be used for availing these services. This invoked sharp reactions from people across the city who are dependent on the public transport for their daily commuting.
Sandhya Sharma a West Delhi resident, said, “Apart from the Delhi Metro, there is no other alternative to pay for the commute on the public transportation. Before the move, the government should have made adequate provisions for the payment apart from cash. The move will unleash trouble.” Daily bus passengers complained that due to the shortage of cash, it will be extremely difficult for them to commute to work. “I travel around 40 km daily from Najafgarh to Dakshin Puri in south Delhi for work. Now that the buses will not accept the old Rs 500 notes, it will be a big hassle to arrange for cash for daily travel,” Manish Gupta, a resident of Najafgarh, said.
The finance ministry on Friday said that the move has come in the wake of decline in the receipt of old currency notes. On November 8, the government declared demonetisation drive across the country and said high denomination Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 will cease to be legal tender.
