ATMs go cashless, become non-functional

Nirmal: The ATMs in the district are in a pretty bad shape after the demonetisation of the high value Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes on November 8.

There are only three ATMs around the district catering to the needs of the people in providing cash round the clock. Heavy rush has been seen around almost all the ATMs across the district and most people return disappointed due to the non-availability of cash.

When a team comprising reporters of The Hans India met some of the people, they poured out their woes over the non-functioning of the ATMs. They said that most of the ATMs have either a ‘no cash’ board or ‘out of service’ board on the display. This is the pitiful condition of the district, they lamented.

Of the ATMs found open, just 6.25% of the ATMs have been serving with cash to the people although there are almost 48 ATMs around the district. However, the situation is quite alarming in the present scenario.

In the newly formed Nirmal district, the population is around 7,09,418 and the ratio of the ATMs service to people is very low as each ATM must serve at least 15,000 people on an average.

There are 25 ATMs in the Nirmal constituency and most of the cash is available at the ATM of the SBH main branch. Other ATMs have supplied cash for a lesser time of around 4 to 5 hours a day.

The situation is even worse in areas like Khanapur, Kadem, Pembi mandals where there are almost 8 ATMs and unfortunately not a single ATM of these has any cash since 9th November. Dasturabad is a town where we have found no ATM installed.

There are around 15 ATMs installed in the Nirmal city of which just 5 ATMs serve the people whereas then other 10 are out of order. City Union Bank ATM around Doctors lane, ICICI ATM around the Produturi complex, Andhra Bank ATM on the Mancherial road, HDFC ATM near the bus depot are open at times with very little cash. People withdraw the cash so fast that the ATM turns empty in a span of just 4 hours.

The Andhra Bank ATM at Gundampalli has not been open for the last 25 days. India No. 1 ATM near Mamada, SBH near Sarangapur, Andhra bank ATM in Bopparam, Bank of Maharashtra ATM in Ponkal have been found closed for the past 20 days having no cash in the bank.

People have been thronging around the banks to withdraw cash from the banks and finally they receive a meagre amount of Rs. 5000/- from the bank which doesn't help them to make their both ends meet.

Bhainsa holds the most of the cotton market around the State and the demonetisation made an adverse impact on this business as well. Andhra Bank ATM in Bhainsa and HDFC ATM open very occasionally.

Most of these ATMs are closed on Monday which is a day of weekly market at the town. Only the ATM of SBH serves the people with cash. SBH ATM in Bazar, Andhra Bank ATM, ATM at the IIIT serve the people with cash once in a fortnight.

India no. 1 in Tanoor and UBI ATM at Kubeer have not been opened since the old Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes lost their legal tender. ICICI ATM is also out of cash. Similarly, there is no cash in the ATMs in Khanapur area.

The SBH ATMs in Kadem and Pembi are out of order. Women, senior citizen, professionals and people from every walk of life are affected due to demonetisation. All the account holders around the district are praying for a quick relief.

-BYSathyapu Srinivas Reddy