Over 50 per cent ATMs in Telangana are useless
More than 50 % of ATMs in the state were not working and even if they were, the machines did not have any money to dispense: Etela Rajendar.
Hyderabad: For those who have been waiting in lines for the new notes, here’s some more troubling news. More than 50 per cent of ATMs across Telangana are not working.
According to a report prepared by the Telangana government, there are about 8,458 ATMs in the state of which 5,000 are not working, especially in the state’s far-flung rural regions.
Telangana finance minister Etela Rajendar told officials from the State Level Bankers Committee on Thursday that more than 50 per cent of ATMs in the state were not working and even if they were, the machines did not have any money to dispense. He asked the officials to ensure that all ATMs in the state were filled to avoid any further economical inconvenience to the citizens.
The bankers meanwhile told the minister that they did not have lower denomination notes. They said that they had sufficient numbers of
Rs 2,000 notes but people were not accepting them as they were unable to exchange them for change.
When they said that they were ready to fill the ATMs with the Rs 2,000 notes, the minister asked them how people in the rural areas would get change for the high denomination notes.
The bankers then said that from November 9 to November 16 they had filled Rs 3,000 crore in ATMs. They, however, did not have figures of how much of this money was withdrawn. Mr Rajendar directed them to ensure that all ATMs in the state were functioning.