Queues outside Mumbai banks clear faster after ATMs open shutters
Citizens waiting in long queues outside banks heaved a sigh of relief as ATMs pulled up the shutters post mid-day on Tuesday.
Citizens waiting in long queues outside banks heaved a sigh of relief as ATMs pulled up the shutters post mid-day on Tuesday.
Laxman Ramalinga, a domestic help, who was waiting outside an ATM at Borivli, said that the queues are clearing quickly. “People are coming out of the kiosks in 20 minutes. Money seems to be finally flowing in.”
Sneha Shukla, a marketing employee, who was waiting for her turn outside an ATM in Kandivli, said, “After almost a week, I am seeing a thin line outside an ATM.”
“It’s good to know people are cooperating and the government is acting promptly,” said Shukla, adding that she managed to withdraw money within 15 minutes.
To ease the woes of people standing in queues, some social workers distributed water bottles and offered tea. However, Karan Patel, a college-goer and an intern at a firm, said more services should be started in order to ease the woes of those who cannot stand in queues.
“We are young and so, we can wait. But what about those who are differently abled? These factors should be taken into consideration,” said Patel, who was waiting for his turn outside an ATM at Borivli.
According to citizens, some banks had segregated the queues and even set up extra counters to clear the rush effectively.
Dharmen Engineer, an engineer, said he was waiting outside a Kandivli bank as the segregated lines moved in an organised manner. “There is one line each for those who want to withdraw cash, deposit cash and for senior citizens.”
“Earlier, the queues were disorderly. But today, the situation is better here,” said Engineer.
Meanwhile, banks that don’t offer ATM cards have long queues. “They did not provide us with ATM cards earlier. Even now, they are not taking any measures to ease the queue. We have no option but to stand here. Senior citizens are facing problems too,” said Lakhraj Yadav, a 61-year-old customer, who was waiting in the queue for more than two hours.