Jamshedpur : Anxious people throng over 300 private and nationalized banks in the city and outskirts as people thronged counters for replacement of old Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes as banks opened on Thursday.
SDO Dhalbhum Suraj Kumar acting on the directive of the East Singhbhum deputy commissioner Amit Kumar had deputed around 38 magistrates across city for strict vigil along with police team to quell any untoward incident.
�We have ensured that the people are able to replace their currencies at ease. We have deputed magistrates to ensure that there is no unruly incident by panic stricken people while in queue for exchanging currencies. Directives have also been issued to all the police stations to depute police teams at all banks till the banking hours conclude (8 pm) today. We have also issued a helpline number 0657-2440111 which would be functional 24×7 for any complaint about problems faced by consumers,� said Suraj Kumar.
The SDO however, said that there was no report of any untoward incident from any banks so far. � Though we had only received few complaints about banks closing down transaction at 6 pm instead of the government directive of 8 pm and after our requests the banks agreed to carry on exchange of currencies till 8 pm,� added Suraj Kumar.
At the head post office exchange of banned Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes also took place. A notice in this regard was also put-up at the post office today.
While, the 30 odd post-offices located in different areas of Jamshedpur could not exchange currencies. Instead, they only accepted deposits from the account holders.
Senior superintendent of India Post, Jamshedpur division, S P Singh said, ” The exchange of currencies took place only at the Bistupur-based head post office. Other post offices could not extend the exchange facility due to lack of Rs 100 and other denomination currency notes. We are yet to get stocks of new currency notes.”
Sources said the head post office at Bistupur had a stock of Rs 4 lakh in Rs 100 denominations which got exhausted within two hours after the exchange of notes began at 10 am. The exchange of notes resumed after supply of Rs 20 denomination notes from the State Bank of India.