AGARTALA, Dec 24 (TIWN): There was no respite in sight for cash-strapped people on Saturday, a day ago of Christmas as queues outside banks and ATMs for withdrawing money continued across the city with rising anger and pain. Here in Tripura, the lack of 500 rupees notes have turned the situation more critical. Not a single ATM is providing 500 rupees notes, resulting much cash-shortage while exchanging notes. However, people finding no other option chose to stand in bank lines, whereas there are huge crowd all the time occupy the counters.

The situation is worse in SBI and Gramin Banks, where maximum number of people are found standing. Somehow better conditions were witnessed outside the Bandhan Bank, ICICI Bank and Axis Bank, HDFCs.

The main problem is occurring due to lack of 500 rupees notes in ATMs. If the ATMs begins to circulate Rs. 500 notes, then the problem of small note crisis would be diminished within 3/ 4 days. But here whereas 80 % ATMs remains in non-workable condition, the others are found depositing only 200 rupees notes.