Demonetisation effect: No fee for using another bank's ATM

Two days after his 'surgical strike' on black money, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who reached Japan on Thursday evening, said his government is unwavering in its effort to create corruption free India.

The PM also lauded citizens' patience in dealing with the effects of demonetization of Rs.500 and Rs. 1000 notes.

In a series of tweets, PM Modi said: "So happy to learn that citizens are expressing their gratitude to bankers and getting notes exchanged in a very patient and orderly manner."

"It is also heartening to learn that people are actively volunteering to help senior citizens withdraw money and exchange their currency," the PM posted.

He hailed people for "such warmth, enthusiasm and the patience to bear limited inconvenience for a greater good is indeed very heartening."

"I assure you the Govt is unwavering in its effort to create an India that is corruption free & fruits of development touch every citizen," Modi claimed.

While Indians have appreciated PM Modi's efforts to curb black money in the country, the sudden demonetisation of the highest denominated notes, rupees five hundred and rupees thousand, have thrown life out of gear in many ways, according to reports.

With banks and automated teller machines (ATMs) remaining closed on Wednesday, people lined up before banks across India since Thursday morning to change the notes.

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley earlier  tweeted: "Legal tender cancellation of currency has some transient problems but we planned to handle it efficiently.No citizen will face inconvenience."

But the ground reality for the common man was rather different.

Long queues in front of banks have been reported from most cities and towns since early morning.

In many areas, the queues snaked across pavements for a long way.

Many of those queuing up were salaried people who said they did not have enough small change at home to do daily shopping.

Daily wage earners and labourers, who have their savings in the now demonetised notes, were also seen anxiously queuing up.

Not only Indians, even foreigners who had changed their currency into Indian notes, were reportedly seen worrying about getting their demonetised notes changed and were crowding to the forex bureaus.