The Central government, in a further blow of sorts to the common man, has said the older Rs 500 currency notes may no more be used to buy tickets to trains, metros and buses from December 9 midnight.
According to an official statement released by the Ministry of Finance on Friday, the Central government "has been reviewing the different operational aspects of the matters related to the cancellation of the legal tender character of old high denomination notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000."
It went on to add: "There has been a declining trend in the receipt of these old currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000. Further, a number of steps have been taken for promoting digital transactions."
The statement further said: "Keeping the above in view, the exemptions that have been given for use of Rs 500 old notes, were re-examined by the government." As a result, the following exemptions have been withdrawn:
1. For making payments at railway ticketing counters, ticket counters of government or public sector undertaking (PSU) buses for purchase of tickets
2. For making payments to catering services on board, during travel by rail, and
3. For making payments for purchasing tickets for travel by suburban and metro rail services
Being one of the essential services — with crores of Indians using the mode of transport on a regular basis, if not on a daily basis — the Railways had initially been exempted from the services that would not accept the old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes in order for the common man not to be inconvenienced.
However, the fresh step means that the exemption may be gone for good, and the only way for the common man to get back the value of the old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes is to deposit them in their bank accounts, the last date for which is December 30.
