Chandigarh, Nov 10 (IANS) Long queues were witnessed outside nationalised and private banks in the city on Thursday to exchange the now defunct currency notes.
"All the SBI branches will work an extra two hours for two days from today (Thursday) and will also remain open over the weekend to help customers queuing up to deposit their old Rs 500 and 1,000 notes," a senior official of the State Bank of India told IANS here.
He asked the public not to create panic as the bank has opened special counters in all the braches to exchange the large currency notes.
"I have come from Jaipur and have to go back. I delayed my visit for a day as I have no new currency notes to pay my taxi fare. I am awaiting my turn for more than three hours to get the currency notes exchanged," said businessman Naresh Giri.
ICICI Bank has also announced the extension of its branch timings across the country by two hours on November 10 and 11.
The banks reopened a day after they did not transact any business following the government's decision that invalidated Rs 500 and 1,000 currency notes to curb corruption, unaccounted wealth and terror financing.
