Mumbai: Since past a week, several automatic teller machines (ATMs) in the city have been running ‘dry’, inconveniencing customers. Bank officials have said that customers are withdrawing more cash than needed, which in turn is leading to “scarcity” of notes. But several people The Asian Age spoke to across the city said they cannot figure out why the ATMs have had no money since the beginning of the month. Bhandup resident Vinayak Joil, an air conditioner mechanic, who wanted to withdraw Rs 4,000, said he had tried his luck at 15 ATMs but in vain, until he succeeded on his 16th attempt.
An official from the Punjab National Bank in south Mumbai said on the condition of anonymity that the reason behind this cash crunch could be people’s fear of unavailability of liquid cash.
No cash option, students forced to pay fees online
The ATM machines outside the Bandra station were out of cash. Students of various colleges were queuing up to withdraw cash outside Bandra station. Shadab Deshmukh, a student of Hinduja college said, “I wanted to withdraw Rs 6,000 to pay my college fees before Thursday. I could lose the eligibility to appear for the coming educational year. If the ATMs keep running dry, I will have to make an online payment, but still I won’t have cash in hand.”
ATMs at railway’s central hub, cst wear deserted look
Mumbai’s main central hub of railway, CST also saw five ATMs at the station in a non-working condition. Priyanka Phuljhade, a lecturer said, “I know we are all going digital, but we also need cash in our hand. We swipe our cards and make online payments wherever we can, but the hawkers and vegetable sellers do not accept cards. I very irritated about the current situation of ATMs. What does PayTM mean? Pay To Modi?”
atm
Out-of-cash, out-of-service atms trouble senior citizens
The ATMs in Wadala were out of cash, where people had visited almost every ATM kiosks before they could get their cash. Wherever the people went, there were signboards saying, ‘Out of Cash’ or ‘ATM is out of service’. Mr Bipin Shah, a senior citizen said, “I left the house in the morning to withdraw money as I had to buy vegetables. Since there is no cash available in the ATM vending machines, I cannot go home. My 57-year-old wife is expecting me to get vegetables so that she can cook today’s lunch.”
Tech professionals optimistic, prefer the bigger picture for a tiny cash crunch
Several ATMs in Worli were shut and irate people had to return empty-handed. Jignesh Patil, an IT professional said, “This is the sixth ATM I have visited since morning. But this disappointment is worth because this is the result of the move taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Keeping in mind the bigger picture of a digital India, this small problem of cash crunch can be handled.”
