Long queues formed outside banks as they reopened for the first time since the demonitisation move
As many 3,400 personnel of paramilitary and Delhi Police along with quick reaction teams have been deployed across the national capital for maintaining security in banks in view of rush of people to exchange the now-invalid currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000.
The deployment has been made as banks will open today after Tuesday night's announcement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the demonitisation of the two higher domination notes.
Besides the 1,200 paramilitary personnel and 2,200 Delhi Police personnel which have been deployed, the Home Ministry has also kept about 1000 personnel at standby for immediate deployment in case of emergency, official sources said.
About 200 quick reaction teams are also positioned in various parts of the city, the sources said.
There are about 149 scheduled commercial banks, including 56 regional rural banks, with branch network of about 1.30 lakh across the country. Besides, the co-operative banks have also been asked to take deposit and exchange the old notes with the new ones.
For public convenience, banks will remain open on coming Saturday and Sunday.
Banks have also announced a slew of measures, including extension of banking hours, doing away with ATM charges and expanding credit limits to handle the expected huge rush to tender now defunct Rs 500 and 1000 notes.