Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while announcing the decision to scrap Rs 500 and Rs 1000 bank notes, said several arrangments have been made to ease the difficulties of citizens for the first 72 hours, that is until midnight on November 11.
1. During this period government hospitals will continue to accept Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes. Pharmacies at government hospitals will also accept these notes.
2. Till midnight 11 November, railway ticket counters, ticket counters of government buses and airline ticket counters at airports will accept the old notes.
3. Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes will also be accepted also at petrol, diesel and CNG gas stations authorised by PSU oil companies, consumer cooperative stores authorised by state or central government, milk booths authorised by state governments, crematoria and burial grounds.
4. Arrangements will be made at international airports for arriving and departing passengers to exchange old notes for legal tender.
The PM added that since secrecy was essential for the action, the demonetisation had to be brought into effect immediately. “Banks and post offices have to make many arrangements at very short notice. Therefore all banks will be closed to the public on 9 November. This may cause some hardship to you. I have full faith that banks and post offices will successfully carry out this great task. However, I appeal to all of you to help the banks and post offices to meet this challenge with poise and determination,” he said in his speech.