Defunct currency valid for utility payment till Nov 24

New Delhi/Mumbai, November 14

With banks struggling to cope with the rush to get alternative currency, the government has extended the use of old defunct Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes for paying household utility bills, fuel, taxes and fees and purchases from co-operative stores till November 24.

The government also extended suspension of toll on National Highways across the country till midnight of November 18.

While withdrawing Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes from the night of November 8-9, the government had allowed use of the old currency at government hospitals, railway ticketing, public transport, airline ticketing at airports, milk booths, crematoria/burial grounds and petrol pumps for 72 hours.

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This list was later expanded to include payments for metro rail tickets, highway and road toll, purchase of medicines on doctor prescription from the government and private pharmacies, LPG gas cylinders, railway catering, electricity and water bills and ASI monument entry tickets.

(Read: Banks closed today; queues get longer outside ATM kiosks)

As banks struggled to give alternate currency, the deadline was extended by another 72 hours. That deadline was to end at midnight tonight, but has now been extended till November 24, official sources said.

More relaxations

— Defunct Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes valid for paying household utility bills, fuel, taxes and fees till November 24.

— No toll on National Highways across the country till midnight of November 18.

— No parking charges at airports till November 21.

— Banks to waive ATM charges on all transactions November 10 to December 30.

Old currency can also be used for purchases at consumer co-operative stores like Kendriya Bhandar with valid ID proof as also for paying court fee.

But payments towards utility bills will be restricted to only individuals or households for arrears and/or current bills. No advance payments will be allowed.

Charges on ATM transactions waived till Dec 30

In yet another move to lessen woes of people facing cash crunch, the RBI on Monday directed banks to waive ATM charges on all transactions done by savings bank customers till December 30.

The waiver will be applicable on transactions done by a customer through his or her own bank ATM as well those of other banks.

"It has been decided that banks shall waive levy of ATM charges for all transactions (inclusive of both financial and non-financial transactions) by savings bank customers done at their own banks' ATMs as well as at other banks' ATMs, irrespective of the number of transactions during the month," the central bank said in a late evening notification.

The waiver is applicable on transactions done at ATMs from November 10 till December 30, 2016.

In August 2014, the number of mandatory free ATM transactions for savings bank account customers at other banks' ATMs was reduced to three transactions per month in the six metro centres (Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Hyderabad).

A customer was permitted at least five free transactions per month for use of own bank ATMs.

Banks could charge up to Rs 20 (plus service tax, if any) beyond the permitted transactions.

Parking charges at airports suspended till Nov 21

The government also extended the suspension of vehicle parking charges at all airports till the midnight of November 21.

According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the move to extend the suspension is expected to facilitate the smooth movement of passengers.

Earlier on Monday, the government had extended the suspension of the fee collection at all the toll plazas on National Highways till November 18.

Even the Indian Railways has said it will accept the demonetised currency notes as payment for ticketing and catering purposes till November 24. — Agencies