Prime Ministerji ne sab logon ki waat laga di, say Mumbaikars

There was a tussle at the international airport coffee shop last night due to lack of change

Within minutes of the announcement by PM Modi, people spilled out on to the streets, desperately looking for ways to get rid of their soon-to-be 'invalid' notes. From airports to chemists, petrol stations and even brothels, Mumbaikars tried their luck everywhere possible. Some were successful, many were not.

At the airport
By 1 am, several counters at the international airport had stopped accepting Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. Tourists arriving -- unaware of currency ban being imple­m­­ented, while they were mid-flight - were shocked that their notes were not being accepted. Some were later forced to pay by card.

The toll charge for car parking at the airport worked its way around the problem. When this reporter handed the staff a Rs 1,000 note at the exit as payment against the Rs 280 parking fee, the attendant, after some haggling and com­plaining, gave change co­mpri­sing a Rs 500 note, and Rs 220 in Rs 20 denominations.

Sorry, no change
Medical shops continued to accept old currency but most pharmacists were worried about running out of change. "We are not refusing Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, but are running out of change. So, we are accepting these notes only from those who require medicines urgently," said Rajan Dighe, pharmacist at KEM Hospital.

When mid-day visited Noble Medical, a 24 hour-medical store at Prabhadevi, we had to shop worth Rs 500 just to buy a painkiller and a bottle of water.

Noble Plus medical store at Worli Naka. Pic/Bipin Kokate

CSWs unaware
Sex workers in Kamathipura seemed to be unaware of the announcement. Shastri Nag­ar in Andheri, which is a regular pick-up point for sex workers, saw business as usual until 3 am. When we asked a transgender if she would accept Rs 500 in cash, she said, "Yes." Another wo­man haggled to 'book her for the whole night'. "Full night Rs 1,500 charge hai... woh cash mein le sakti hoon," she said.

Make hay while sun shines
Several city pubs capitalised on the new policy. Riyaaz Amlani's Social, was the first to cash in by implementing a ‘5 shots for Rs 500, Rs 10 for Rs 1,000' deal, valid till midnight. A popular suburban bar near Juhu Circle sold two beers for Rs 500.